Loral Space & Communications expects the Telstar 18 satellite to exceed its 13-year design life, despite the need to use on-board fuel to raise its orbit after the spacecraft separated prematurely from its Sea Launch Zenit-3SL booster after an equatorial launch on 29 June.
Built by Space Systems/Loral and operated by Loral Skynet, Telstar 18 has deployed its solar arrays and all systems are operating normally, the company says. The satellite is expected to enter service in August, at 138°E in geosynchronous orbit. The partial launch failure of the Zenit will cost Telstar about two years of operational life, according to Russia's Federal Space Agency.
Sea Launch is investigating why the 1300-series spacecraft separated prematurely from the Zenit's upper stage. The Boeing-built Superbird-6 satellite for Japan's Space Communications also ended up in a low orbit after its flight on International Launch Services Atlas IIAS on 15 April.
Source: Flight International
