Bringing the latest in satellite technology across the globe.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
The 3D satellite of Eutelsat Communication is now in its final stage for the scheduled launch aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket, which will blast off at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Built by Thales Alenia Space using the company’s Spacebus 4000 platform, Eutelsat 3D satellite weighs 5.4 tons and is designed to operate in orbit for a span of 15 years,
The satellite will be initially located at three degrees east orbital position to address high-growth video, data, telecom and broadband markets. Eutelsat’s new satellite will be able to serve customers in Europe, Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East via the configuration of Ku and Ka transponders connected to three footprints. Meanwhile, a fourth Ku-band service area will provide for markets in sub-Saharan Africa.
Once Eutelsat 3B is launched, the Eutelsat 3D satellite will change its orbital position to 7 degrees East. The upcoming Eutelsat 3B is scheduled to be launched next year to deliver spectrum growth and high levels of operational flexibility in C, Ku and Ka band.
Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) and DMC International Imaging (DMCii) have signed a new agreement that will increase the volume and the speed at which KSAT delivers satellite imagery to DMCii…
The powerful Anik G1 satellite of Telesat has been successfully launched by ILS Proton, Telesat announced. Anik G1, according to the statement released by the satellite services operator, will be located at 107.3 degrees West providing a range of communications services, including direct-to-home (DTH) video for Canada, X-band for government applications in the Americas and Pacific Ocean Region, and C-band and Ku-band services in South America.
Anik G1 is the newest addition to Telesat’s global fleet and carries 16 extended Ku-band transponders fully contracted to Shaw Direct for 15 years. Anik G1 will bring new capacity to meet the growing demand for satellite communications services in South America, as well.
Telesat President and CEO, Dan Goldberg, said, “Anik G1 will add meaningful incremental capacity to Telesat’s fleet that will contribute to our anticipated growth in 2013 and beyond. We are pleased that a significant portion of Anik G1’s capacity is pre-sold for 15 years to blue chip customers like Shaw Direct and Astrium Services. We look forward to delivering to them the outstanding quality and reliability they have come to expect from Telesat and to expanding the C-band and Ku-band services we provide to the rapidly growing South American market.”
See also: Hawaii To Launch Its First Satellite On October 2013
Ecuador will soon be joining the community of nations that operate satellites when Pegaso, its first ever nanosatellite, launches from a Chinese spaceport in two weeks time.
The “Pegaso” nanosatellite is a homegrown design built in Ecuador. Its onboard camera will broadcast live video images back to Earth.
“It’s not a satellite bought in another country,” President Rafael Correa told the Ecuadoran engineering team, “It’s a satellite made in Ecuador.”
The Ecuadoran Space Agency has set plans for a second satellite launch in July 2013.
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The University of Hawaii has enlisted the help of the Pacific Missile Range Facility of the U.S. Navy for the first ever launch of a satellite from the island of Kauai.
The Pacific Missile Range Facility has previously test-launched missiles on behalf of the U.S. military. But if the University of Hawaii pulls through with its plan, then the Kauai facility will get to host its first ever satellite launch.
The HiiakaSat satellite was designed by faculty and students of the University of Hawaii for a two-year operational lifespan in low-Earth orbit. It will be operated by students from the Kauai Community College. The KCC students will also perform command and control duties at the satellite’s ground station.
The Hawaii Space Flight Lab envisioned the HiiakaSat program to be the first step in creating a small satellite launch venture based in Kauai. Such a venture would potentially be attractive to companies that wish to test satellite-related space technology.
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