Hotbird 8 launch is successful

ILS have announced the launch is successful and Eutelsat have said they expect to have Hotbird 8 in commercial service in October.

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Aug. 5, 2006 - A Proton Breeze M launch vehicle successfully placed the HOT BIRD 8 satellite into orbit today, for the fourth launch of the year for International Launch Services (ILS).

The launcher lifted off at 3:48 a.m. Saturday local time (21:48 Friday GMT, 5:48 p.m. Friday EDT). The mission lasted 9 hours and 11 minutes before HOT BIRD 8 was released into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The satellite is a Eurostar E3000 model built for Eutelsat by EADS Space. From its final orbital position of 13 degrees East longitude, HOT BIRD 8 will serve customers in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

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