ILS

International Launch Services (ILS) has launched the Intelsat 31 satellite into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Launched aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket, the satellite is owned by satellite network operator Intelsat.

Shortly after lift-off, the Intelsat 31 satellite separated from its carrier rocket’s upper stage and signal acquisition has been confirmed.

Manufactured by Space Systems Loral (SSL), the satellite is a 20KW class Ku-band and C-band model and expected to have a service life of more than 15 years.

Known as DLA-2, the Ku-band payload is hosted by the Intelsat 31 and designed to provide services for DIRECTV Latin America’s distribution services in South America and the Caribbean.

The C-band portion of the satellite improves Intelsat’s existing C-band service infrastructure serving Latin America.

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Intelsat 31 will be co-located with the previously launched Intelsat 30, which hosts the DLA-1 payload, at 95° West.

ILS president Kirk Pysher said: "Our partnership with Intelsat spans 18 years with 12 of their satellites launched to date by Proton with the launch of Intelsat 31.

"Each and every team member should be commended for their contributions to the success of the Intelsat 31 mission."

"We look forward to extending our partnership further with more launches over the coming years under our multi-launch agreement with Intelsat.

"Each and every team member should be commended for their contributions to the success of the Intelsat 31 mission."

Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center (Khrunichev) has manufactured the Proton Breeze M vehicle that performed the launch of Intelsat 31.

Since 1965, Proton has carried out 412 missions, and the latest launch was the third Proton launch of this year and the 12th for Intelsat on ILS Proton.

Image: ILS Proton launches Intelsat 31 satellite. Photo: courtesy of International Launch Services.