 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Multi-band Military and Commercial Satellite Begins Service
Palo Alto - Aug 26, 2003 Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, has announced that the Optus C1 communications satellite, built by SS/L under contract from Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for SingTel Optus and the Australian Department of Defence, has successfully completed a complex series of in-orbit tests. The satellite, launched June 11 from the Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, was handed over to Optus and the Australian Department of Defence for operational service on July 18. Optus C1 achieved geostationary orbit on June 20. In-orbit tests, conducted by a combined team of Loral and Mitsubishi engineers, demonstrated performance that accurately reflects the results of ground tests before launch. Optus C1 is one of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, carrying a total of 16 antennas that provide 18 beams across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as global beams covering a large area from Malaysia to Hawaii. The advanced communications payload operates in four different frequency bands -- commercial services at Ku-band, and military communications at UHF, X- and Ka-bands. The spacecraft is operating from an orbital slot at 156 degrees East longitude. Optus, a leading Australian telecommunications service provider, will use the Optus C1's Ku-band payload to distribute video, direct-to-home TV, and telephony and Internet connections to remote areas. For the Australian Department of Defence, the satellite's Ka-band payload provides high-data-rate broadcast coverage for video, and voice and data communications. The X-band payload provides medium- to high-data-rate, voice and data communications for land and maritime applications. The UHF payload provides secure low-rate voice and data communications to mobile platforms. Optus C1 is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 geostationary satellite platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. The 1300 is designed to achieve a long life, in this case in excess of 15 years. The 1300 achieves high stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias attitude control systems. A system of high-efficiency solar arrays and batteries provide uninterrupted electrical power. In total, SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,000 years of on-orbit service. Total satellite power will be approximately 10 kW at end of life, and the spacecraft had a launch mass of nearly five metric tons. Optus managed the procurement, together with the Australian Department of Defence. Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), the prime contractor, teamed with SS/L, which designed, assembled, integrated and tested the spacecraft at its California facility. SS/L also supplied the Ku-band subsystem. MELCO was responsible for the overall payload. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Optus SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry
Orbcomm's Equity Financings Complete
Bremen, Germany (SPX) Jan 06, 2006OHB Technology affiliated company Orbcomm has announced that it has completed equity financings totaling over $110 million led by Pacific Corporate Group (PCG), which committed $60 million. New investors, in addition to PCG, include investment firms MH Equity Investors and Torch Hill Capital. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
