The new Intelsat 19 satellite, launched on June 1 from the Sea Launch facility, is facing severe difficulties after a delay in deploying one of its two solar arrays.
In a statement, Intelsat said it was investigating the cause and are pursuing corrective actions alongside manufacturer Space Systems/Loral.
The spacecraft is currently in geostationary transfer orbit.
Intelsat 19 is the planned replacement for Intelsat 8 at 166 degrees East, which serves customers in the north and southwest Pacific region. Intelsat 8 is currently expected to remain in service through the end of 2019, and no customer services are immediately affected by the delay.
The satellite and launch are fully insured.
