On Monday a Proton launch vehicle successfully lifted a THOR 5 satellite into orbit marking the first mission of the year for the International Launch Services (ILS) of McLean, Va., who managed the mission.

The Proton Breeze M vehicle, was built by ILS's partner, the Khrunichev Space Center in Moscow. After a 9-hour and 23-minute mission, the launcher released the satellite directly into a geostationary orbit. This mission is the first time a GEO communications satellite has been directly injected into a geosynchronous orbit.

The THOR 5 satellite is positioned at 1 degree West longitude, where it will deliver broadcast and interactive services across the Nordic region, Europe and the Middle East for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting of Norway. THOR 5 is a STAR 2 model spacecraft built by Orbital Sciences that contracted for the launch with ILS. Orbital designed, built and tested the THOR 5 spacecraft at its Dulles, Va satellite manufacturing facility.

The THOR 5 satellite is based on Orbital's STAR-2 platform. It will provide Ku-band fixed telecommunications and direct-to-home TV broadcasting services. The THOR 5 satellite has 24 transponders with three times more payload power (3.6 kilowatts) than the current THOR II satellite, which it is replacing. THOR 5 weighed approximately 1960 kg at launch and will improve Telenor's service coverage in the Nordic countries and Europe.

In addition to THOR 5, Orbit currently has eight other commercial GEO satellites and five science and defense spacecraft in various stages of design, production and testing at its Dulles satellite manufacturing facility. To accommodate this rapid rate of growth, Orbital has completed an expansion of its manufacturing plant that, together with other facility improvements, has increased its manufacturing throughput capacity by more than 30%, compared to a year ago.

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