ILS finishes FROB, cites new date for Satmex 8 satellite launch
International Launch Services (ILS) and and its customer, Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (“Satmex”,) announced that they will be launching the Satmex 8 multi-band satellite on March 27, 2013 Western Time.
Satmex 8 was previously set to launch on December 28, 2012. However, its Proton Breeze M launch vehicle experienced an anomaly on December 8, forcing ILS to postpone the launch and check the vehicle for problems.
After completing its Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) review with the help of Satmex, ILS performed corrective actions needed to prevent the anomaly from recurring in the future.
The Company expects to make it to the new launch date on March 27.
If all goes well during the launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Satmex customers will be able to transition from the aging Satmex 5 satellite to the new Satmex 8, which is equipped with both C-band and Ku-band transponders.
