Launch of the third and final Inmarsat I-4 satellite on board a Proton rocket has been scheduled for 14 August.
Inmarsat launched the first two I-4 satellites in 2005. The satellite network provider’s new, higher-bandwidth aeronautical service, SwiftBroadband, will be accessible worldwide - except the extreme polar regions - following the successful launch of the third I-4 satellite, which will take place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Built by EADS Astrium, the satellite will be lofted into space on a Proton Breeze-M rocket operated by International Launch Services (ILS). This is the first ILS mission since an anomaly occurred after the March lift-off of a communications satellite, AMC-14, for SES Americom.
The launch vehicle is now ready to return to flight after a Russian State Commission and an ILS-led independent "failure review" panel concluded its enquiries into the incident and corrective actions were taken, says Inmarsat.
"We thank Inmarsat for its support and patience. We know how important this satellite is for the continued success of Inmarsat’s growing broadband services, and we look forward to the start of the campaign in coming days," says ILS president Frank McKenna.
In-flight connectivity provider OnAir is offering a SwiftBroadband-based GSM solution. On 2 April Air France started the voice element of ongoing trials during commercial flights across Europe on an Airbus A318. Irish budget carrier Ryanair is readying to begin a trial of the service. Other international carriers have committed to the OnAir solution.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
