Monday 3 December 2012 saw the 20.44 (GMT) launch of the Eutelsat 70B (ex-Eutelsat W5A) satellite, built by Astrium for Eutelsat, by a Zenit-3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch from its 154° W launch platform in the Pacific Ocean. The spacecraft was separated one hour and six minutes after liftoff.
Astrium was prime contractor for the Eurostar E3000-based satellite, which will operate up to 48 active transponders in Ku-band. The Launch and Early Orbit Phase is currently being conducted from the Eutelsat control centre in Rambouillet, France, by the control team comprising Eutelsat and Astrium engineers, with Astrium in charge of flight operations and specialist support.
Eutelsat 70B, with a launch mass of 5,200 kg, is designed to have a spacecraft power of 12 kW at the end of its 15-year service life.
Eutelsat 70B is the 29th Eurostar E3000 satellite, and the seventh for the Eutelsat fleet.

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