The NSS-9 spacecraft replaces NSS-5 at a prime connectivity slot for the Pacific Ocean Region and all traffic on NSS-5 has been successfully transferred to NSS-9.

Rob Bednarek, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES, stated: "NSS-9 ensures seamless continuity for our valued customers at the important orbital position of 183 degrees East. It is also an important milestone as the first NSS satellite commissioned and brought into service since NEW SKIES joined the SES group. As such, it is an integral part of our ambitious launch manifest aimed at increasing the in-orbit capacity of our 25 satellite strong SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES fleet by some 200 transponders on four additional spacecraft over the next two years. The successful addition of NSS-9 frees up the NSS-5 satellite for new missions and new markets."

NSS-9 carries 44 active C-band 36 MHz equivalent transponders, and features three beams that can interconnect on a transponder-by-transponder basis: a global beam providing coverage of the entire earth visible from 183 degrees East; a West Hemi beam (covering Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, China, Korea and the Pacific Islands); and an East Hemi beam (providing coverage and connectivity to the continental U.S., Hawaii and Polynesia).

NSS-9 is specified for a minimum service life of 15 years. Based on Orbital's Star 2 satellite bus, the spacecraft had a launch mass of 2230 kilograms, offers a payload power of 2.3 kW, and features command encryption as well as key redundant on-board systems to provide maximum operational security.

The spacecraft was manufactured by Orbital Sciences and launched into space on-board an Ariane 5 booster on February 12, 2009.

The NSS-9 satellite is the 40thspacecraft in SES global fleet.

Related Links
SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES
The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

Hong Kong (SPX) Mar 31, 2009
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) was again voted the "Best Asian Satellite Carrier" in the 2009 Telecom Asia Awards. This is the third time in four years AsiaSat has been presented with this prestigious award as recognition of its outstanding performance in Asia-Pacific telecommunications industry.