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 (EMAILWIRE.COM, February 13, 2009 ) Kourou, French Guiana – SES NEW SKIES, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), announces that the NSS-9 satellite successfully roared into space onboard an Ariane 5 ECA booster from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on February 12 at 7:09 p.m. local time (10:09 p.m. GMT). Approximately 32 minutes after lift-off the spacecraft separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage and was placed into geostationary transfer orbit. Initial signals from NSS-9 were received at a control station in Uralla, Australia at 11:07 p.m. GMT.
NSS-9
NSS-9 was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), with launch services onboard Ariane 5 provided by Arianespace. The satellite, procured by SES Satellite Leasing Limited in the Isle of Man, is poised to be the 40th satellite in SESÂ’ global fleet.
Rob Bednarek, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES, stated: “The flawless launch of NSS-9 allows us to ensure seamless continuity for a variety of customers at the important orbital position of 183 degrees East. At the same time it frees up the existing NSS-5 satellite for new missions and new markets. Our thanks for a mission well accomplished go to the skilled launch teams of Arianespace, Orbital Sciences and SES ENGINEERING. SES looks forward to being back in Kourou no later than the third quarter of this year for the launch of our NSS-12 satellite onboard Ariane 5.”
"With today's successful launch of the NSS-9 satellite for SES and early indications the satellite is working as expected, our latest communications satellite is off to a very good beginning to its mission to provide telecommunications services to people and businesses around the world," commented Michael Larkin, OrbitalÂ’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Space Systems Group.
Immediately following the successful launch of NSS-9, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman & CEO of Arianespace said: "We are very honoured that the SES group has entrusted us with 31 satellites for launching over the past 20 years. Arianespace and SES share a rich history, one that is based on cooperation, quality services and a spirit of innovation. This partnership which has stood the test of time will no doubt continue in the years to come."
About NSS-9
The NSS-9 spacecraft will be positioned at the orbital location of 183 degrees East, a prime connectivity slot for the Pacific Ocean Region. The spacecraft carries 44 active C-band transponders, and features three beams that can interconnect on a transponder-by-transponder basis: a global beam providing coverage of the entire earth visible from 183 degrees East; a West Hemi beam (covering Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, China, Korea and the Pacific Islands); and an East Hemi beam (providing coverage and connectivity to the U.S., Hawaii and Polynesia). NSS-9 is specified for a minimum service life of 15 years. Based on OrbitalÂ’s Star 2 satellite bus, the spacecraft had a launch mass of 2230 kilograms, offers a payload power of 2.3 kW, and features command encryption as well as key redundant on-board systems to provide maximum operational security.
About SES NEW SKIES
SES NEW SKIES is an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) offering satellite communication services to a range of customers including telecommunications providers, broadcasters, corporations and governments around the world. SES NEW SKIES now has a global fleet of eight satellites in orbit, with two additional spacecraft under construction (NSS-12 and NSS-14) and ground facilities around the world.
Headquartered in The Hague, the company has offices in Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C. In addition to SES NEW SKIES, SES wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators SES ASTRA in Europe and SES AMERICOM in North America, 90% of SES SIRIUS in Europe, and strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 39 satellites in 26 orbital locations. Further information on the company is available at www.ses-newskies.com and on SES at www.ses.com
SES ASTRA
Yves Feltes
+352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses.com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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