On 23 July, the construction order for Intelsat 34 was announced as being awarded to the US spacecraft manufacturer, Space Systems/Loral by the commercial satellite operator Intelsat S.A.
Intelsat 34 will serve the role originally intended for Intelsat 27 which was lost on a Sea Launch launch failure. This includes providing capacity for Latin American media customers, as well as broadband for aeronautical companies serving the busy North Atlantic routes.
Scheduled for launch in 2015, Intelsat 34 will replace Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11 at 304.5 degrees East longitude. Intelsat 34 is designed to deliver service for a minimum of 15 years. Intelsat 34 will use Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 bus/platform and will use SPT-100 electric propulsion thrusters for station keeping.
