OREANDA-NEWS. September 29, 2008. Astra-1M Prelaunch Processing Begins at Baikonur Today expert groups from Khunichev center and foreign specialists started the prelaunch processing of Luxembourg`s Astra 1M telecommunications satellite in the clean room (site 92A, Baikonur space port). Proton-M launcher / Breeze-M upper stage are to loft the satellite in late October. Astra 1M manufactured by EADS Astrium for SES-ASTRA; it is based on Eurostar E3000 platform. The satellite carries 36 transponders; estimated life-time in GEO is 15 years. Astra 1M will provide communication and Internet services for Europe, North America and Middle East. The mass of the satellite is 5300 kg, and it is 35 m wide with solar arrays deployed. Baikonur space center press office.