Intelsat 29e

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Intelsat 29e (IS-29e) was Intelsat’s first EpicNG high‑throughput satellite. Built by Boeing on the 702MP platform, it launched on January 27, 2016, aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre. Weighing about 6,552 kg at launch, it carried a mixed C‑band, Ku‑band, and Ka‑band payload designed to deliver large amounts of bandwidth to North America and Latin America from 50° West. The EpicNG design used frequency reuse and a mix of wide and spot beams, enabling high throughput and the ability to link two sites via a single satellite.

IS-29e began service in 2016 with a planned life of more than 15 years, but operated for about 3 years. In April 2019, a fuel leak developed in its propulsion system. On April 8, 2019, debris was observed around the satellite, and on April 18 Intelsat declared IS-29e a total loss. The failure was attributed to possible causes including a micrometeoroid impact or a short circuit related to solar activity and wiring issues.