Astra 1N, the latest satellite to be launched into the SES fleet, is scheduled to lift off tonight from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on board an Ariane 5 ECA rocket.
The satellite has a launch window between 23:53 and 01:08 CET. Astra 1N was built by EADS Astrium in Toulouse using a Eurostar E3000 platform.
On board are 52 Ku-band transponders that will initially provide interim capacity for the UK market at 28 degrees East, before being moved to 19.2 degrees East where it will mainly serve the German, French and Spanish markets.
The BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R spacecraft will be released second in the flight sequence
Video of the launch will be available in Europe from Astra at 19 degrees East; 11023.25 MHz symbol rate 22.0 MSym/s, FEC 5/6, service ID 5232, service name Astra 1N Launch or via www.arianespace.com
.