Satellite operator SES announced the successful launch of the SES-10 satellite aboard a previously-flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 6:27 p.m. EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SES-10 is the first geostationary commercial satellite ever launched on a previously-flown first stage.
The multi-purpose spacecraft is the first SES satellite fully dedicated to serving Latin America, with a Ku-band payload equivalent to 55 transponders at 36 MHz of power.
SES-10 will replace capacity currently provided by other SES satellites at the 67 degrees west longitude position, and will also provide additional capacity for Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
Under an agreement with the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru), the satellite will operate as the Andean Community Simon Bolivar 2 satellite, providing satellite capacity for each member state in the Andean region. The Andean satellite project stems from the common interests of the member states in that a common satellite network utilizes resources of the Andean spectrum at 67 degrees west longitude.
SES-10 was built by Airbus Defence and Space and is based on the Eurostar E3000 platform. The satellite will use an electric plasma propulsion system for on-orbit maneuvers and a chemical system for initial launch into orbit and some orbital maneuvers.
We previously reported that two SES satellites are awaiting launch.