Eutelsat 9B on track for late-January launch

Eutelsat 9B

Eutelsat’s 9B satellite is on track to launch by an ILS Proton rocket on 28 January, the company confirmed.

The Airbus Defence and Space-built satellite is scheduled to launch from Baikonour, Kazakhstan, and is the first of three Eutelsat satellites that are slated to launch in 2016.

Eutelsat 9B is a high-capacity Ku-band satellite for the 9° East position and will address “high-growth broadcast markets” throughout Europe. It will replace Eutelsat 9A, which broadcasts more than 350 DTH and DTT channels, including 100 in High Definition.

Eutelsat 65 West A and Eutelsat 117 West B are due to launch later this year.