AsiaSat 7, a new communications satellite of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), was launched at Hong Kong Time 3:10 a.m. on the 26th of November on an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

9 hours and 13 minutes after liftoff, AsiaSat 7 successfully separated from the launch vehicle. Over the next few days, the satellite will arrive at the geostationary orbit, some 36,000 km above the Equator.

"We are extremely pleased that AsiaSat 7 has successfully achieved this significant launch milestone. We greatly appreciate the efforts of our partners - International Launch Services, Khrunichev and Space Systems/Loral for their precision and professionalism in achieving this launch success," said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

"With AsiaSat 7 successfully launched well ahead of the planned date for AsiaSat 3S's replacement, we can assure continuity of service to customers, while at the same time adding to our on-orbit capacity to service new business."

AsiaSat 7 is a new generation satellite designed to replace AsiaSat 3S at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East. Based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform, AsiaSat 7 will support a broad range of applications for the Asia-Pacific region, including television broadcast and VSAT networks.

AsiaSat 7 carries 28 C-band and 17 Ku-band transponders, and a Ka-band payload. Its region-wide high power C-band beam covers Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and Central Asia, with Ku-band beams serving East Asia, South Asia and a steerable Ku beam.

ILS Proton Successfully Launches the AsiaSat 7 Satellite for AsiaSat
International Launch Services (ILS), a world leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the AsiaSat 7 satellite into orbit on an ILS Proton for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) of Hong Kong.

This was the 5th commercial mission of the year for ILS and the 8th Proton launch so far this year.

The ILS Proton Breeze M launched from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 1:10 a.m. local time (3:10 a.m. in Hong Kong, 19:10 GMT and 2:10 p.m. EDT on November 25).

After a 9 hour 13 minute 4-burn mission, the Breeze M successfully released the AsiaSat 7 satellite, weighing over 3.8 metric tons, into the planned geostationary transfer orbit.

The orbital maneuvering lifetime of the satellite will be extended as a result of the performance and accuracy of the ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle.

This was the 371st launch for Proton since its maiden flight in 1965. The Proton Breeze M vehicle is developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, Russia's premier space industry manufacturer and majority owner of ILS.

Built by Space Systems/Loral, AsiaSat 7 is designed to replace AsiaSat 3S at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East providing television broadcast and VSAT network services across the Asia-Pacific region.

This new generation satellite will carry 28 C-band, 17 Ku-band transponders and a Ka-band payload. The regional C-band beam covers over 50 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and Central Asia.

Frank McKenna, President of ILS said, "This is our second launch with AsiaSat in just about two years, when we launched the AsiaSat 5 satellite.

"With this ILS Proton launch of AsiaSat 7, we have again played a pivotal role in AsiaSat's strategic plan for the expansion of their business with our unmatched schedule assurance.

"My thanks go out to the ILS, Khrunichev, Space Systems/Loral and AsiaSat teams for their tireless efforts in ensuring a successful launch."

"With the launch of AsiaSat 7 on the powerful ILS Proton vehicle, AsiaSat will be able to deliver on our promise to provide high quality and uninterrupted service to our current and potential new customers across Asia, Middle East, and Australasia," said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

"Our selection of ILS Proton, providing optimized delivery to orbit, will help extend the lifetime of the satellite, creating exceptional value for our business. Sincere thanks to all of those at ILS, Khrunichev, Space Systems/Loral and AsiaSat, for an outstanding mission and launch," added Wade.