KIEV, July 10 – The Sea Launch international consortium is preparing to launch a Zenit-3SL rocket with the U.S. Intelsat 21 satellite in mid-August.

From its ocean-based launch site located directly on the equator, the Zenit-3SL launch vehicle will lift the Intelsat 21 spacecraft, weighing 5,984 kilograms, into an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit on its way to its final geostationary orbit at 302° East longitude, according to the Web site of the consortium.

Intelsat 21 will replace the IS-9 satellite. It will maintain and enhance the leading video neighborhood in Latin America, as well as offer mobility services. The Intelsat 21 satellite is based on the Boeing Satellite Systems Inc. (BSSI) 702MP mid-level power platform and is designed to provide 15 or more years of satellite service.