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Systems 'nominal and ready' for launch of Inmarsat-4 F3

18-08-2008 - Inmarsat, together with launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) and satellite manufacturer Astrium, has confirmed the readiness of the Proton Breeze M rocket to launch the third Inmarsat-4 satellite.

The launch is scheduled for 22:43 UTC (23.43 London time) on 18 August 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (04.43 local time, 19 August).

The countdown was initiated by ILS, which has completed rigorous pre-launch checks and the fuelling of the launch vehicle. 

Pre-launch checks
Eugene Jilg, chief technology officer at Inmarsat, said: "Early indications from the pre-launch checks show that the launch vehicle and satellite are nominal and ready for a successful launch."

The Proton Breeze M uses five burns, lasting around nine hours, to place the satellite into geosynchronous orbit.  Inmarsat expects to confirm a successful launch by about 08.30 UTC on Tuesday, 19 August.

The current constellation of two Inmarsat-4 satellites delivers mobile broadband services to 85 per cent of the world's landmass, covering 98 per cent of the world's population.  A successful launch of the third Inmarsat-4 will complete the global coverage for Inmarsat's broadband services.

Deployment period
Following its launch, the Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite will undergo a period of deployment and several weeks of comprehensive tests and manoeuvres before being positioned in geostationary orbit at 98 degrees west.

Live TV coverage of the Inmarsat-4 F3 launch begins at 22:18 UTC (23:18 London time).

Watch live TV of F3 launch 

Mission proile - video animation

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