SES-6 satellite, designed and manufactured for satellite operator SES by Astrium, Europe's leading space technology company, has begun its journey to space. It left Astrium's facility in Toulouse, France, after completion of its final integration and test campaign and is now en route to Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in preparation for its launch on a Proton vehicle.

Based on the highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform, SES-6 is equipped with 43 C-band and 48 Ku-band transponders (36 MHz equivalent).

It will enable the delivery of next generation broadcast services including HD video distribution and mobile services from its 40.5W location in geostationary orbit, covering North and Latin America, Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.

SES-6 will have a launch mass of 6,100 kg, a wingspan of 40m once its solar arrays are deployed in orbit, and a spacecraft power of 13kW at the end of its 15-year design lifetime. Launch and Early Orbit Phase operations will be conducted from the Astrium spacecraft control centre in Toulouse.

SES-6 will be the sixth Eurostar satellite in the SES fleet, following the successful launch of ASTRA 2F in September 2012. Three more Eurostar E3000s for SES are currently in final integration and tests in Astrium facilities.