Atlantic Bird 7, a Eutelsat communications satellite, was launched on 24 September 2011 at 20:18 UT from the Odyssey Launch Platform by a Zenit-3SL rocket. The craft weighed 4,600 kg and will provide digital broadcasting and internet services. It has a Middle East-North Africa beam with 44 Ku-band transponders, plus a separate beam with up to 12 transponders for Northwest Africa. A pair of solar wings spanning about 5 m is designed to provide at least 12 kW of power at the end of the spacecraft's lifetime. Atlantic Bird 7 will use its propulsion system to circularize its orbit to geostationary altitude, where its velocity will match that of Earth's rotation and appear parked at 7 degrees West longitude to provide communications services across the Middle East and Africa. It will be co-located with three Egyptian-owned Nilesat spacecraft to enhance the communications capabilities over the coverage zone. The satellite is expected to go operational in about a month following the deployment of it appendages and testing. The spacecraft has an expected service lifetime of at least 15 years.