Intelsat Plans Drift of JCSAT-RA in Advance of Horizons 3e Launch

Intelsat hopes to start moving JCSAT-RA from 128 degrees east to 169 degrees east by early 2017. In an FCC International Bureau filing Monday, Intelsat -- which is taking over JCSAT-RA from owner Sky Perfect JSAT -- sought authority for the drift and to operate JCSAT-RA at 169 degrees east. It said it expects to have the drift done in Q2 2017, and the satellite will collocate with Intelsat 8 and Intelsat 805 and bridge any gaps in service between their retirement and the arrival of Horizons 3e, expected in Q1 2019. The end of service life for JCSAT-RA is expected to be in 2024, Intelsat said.