Space Systems/Loral (SSL) has announced that a satellite designed and built for Intelsat, was launched yesterday and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan.

The satellite, Intelsat 30, deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. It began firing its main thruster sppm after in order to start maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

Intelsat 30 is a 20-kilowatt class Ku- and C-band satellite. The Ku-band payload, identified as DLA-1, is designed to provide distribution services for DIRECTV Latin America in South America and the Caribbean.

The C-band portion enhances Intelsat's existing C-band service infrastructure serving Latin America. The satellite will be positioned at 95 degrees West longitude where it will be co-located with Intelsat's Galaxy 3C.

"We were honored and privileged to have Intelsat's trust to design and build this powerful satellite," said John Celli, president of SSL.

"SSL has worked together with both Intelsat and DIRECTV for many years, every time with a passion for excellence, quality and reliability. I would like to thank Intelsat, DIRECTV, Arianespace and the hundreds of engineers and technicians at SSL who helped make this highly sophisticated satellite a great success."

Intelsat 30 is SSL's eleventh 20-kilowatt satellite to be placed into orbit. It is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 platform, which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances, including electric propulsion.

Intelsat 30 is SSL's 15th satellite with electric propulsion to be placed into orbit and the company currently has 11 additional satellites with electric propulsion under construction. Intelsat 30 is designed to provide service for 15 years or more. With this launch, there are 77 SSL-built GEO satellites currently on orbit.