Arianespace assembling Flight VA211 for Skynet 5D, Mexsat 3 satellites

Arianespace has begun preparations to launch its seventh Ariane 5 mission, Ariane Flight VA211, from the French Guiana Spaceport this 2012. The launch is scheduled for the middle of December and will deliver the Skynet 5D military communications platform and the Mexsat 3 Ku-band satellite into orbit.

Skynet 5D will occupy the upper payload slot of the Ariane 5 rocket. It will be the first satellite to be deployed. Mexsat 3 will be installed in the lower payload slot.

Built by the Astrium division of EADS, Skynet 5D was based off the high-power E3000 variant of the company’s Eurostar satellite series. The 2.5 ton satellite is equipped with its X-band transponders that can provide secure voice and data communications to Skynet users such as the British armed forces, the militaries of other European countries, NATO member-nations, and Australia, who all perform military operations in peacekeeping and battlefield conditions.

Its fellow passenger on Flight VA211, the Mexsat 3 satellite, is of American manufacture. The rugged Orbital Sciences Corporation-built platform weighs nearly 3,050 kg at liftoff and was designed for more than 15 years of operations in orbit. Its complement of extended C-band and Ku-band transponders will deliver next-generation satellite communications services throughout Mexico and the maritime VSAT users in its surrounding waters.

The Flight VA211 vehicle is undergoing assembly at the Spaceport’s Launcher Assembly Building. Its sister Ariane 5 rocket. Designated Flight VA210 and scheduled for launch this November, the second Arianespace rocket is nearing completion at the Final Assembly Building. Flight VA210 will also carry a two-satellite payload consisting of the EUTELSAT 21B and Star One C3 platforms.

ILS successfully launches Intelsat 23 Ku-band satellite

Satellite service provider Intelsat S.A. recently announced that a Proton launch vehicle operated by International Launch Services (ILS) successfully boosted the Intelsat 23 C-/Ku-band satellite into orbit.

The ILS Proton rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on October 14. Intelsat has confirmed signal acquisition of Intelsat 23 nine and a half hours after the successful launch.

Intelsat 23 was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation and deployed to replace the aging Intelsat 707 at the 307 degrees East orbital slot. It was designed for an anticipated service life of more than 18 years.

Its mixed payload of transponders will deliver improved capacity for enterprise, oil and gas, and data networking applications in four continents. Intelsat 23's C-band transponders will refresh capacity for customers in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Its Ku-band transponders will similarly improve capacity for Latin America.

Intelsat 23 is the last Intelsat satellite to be launched this year and the second-to-the last component of the Company's global broadband mobility platform. The next satellite, Intelsat 27, will complete Intelsat's current fleet replacement and expansion program when it is launched in the first quarter of 2013.

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Eutelsat orders new C-band, Ku-band satellite from Thales Alenia Space for future DTH services

On October 11, Eutelsat Communications announced that it has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space for a new multi-band satellite, Eutelsat 8 West B satellite. From its planned 7 degrees West position, the new satellite will deliver broadcasting services to Direct-to-Home (DTH) markets in North Africa and the Middle East over the C- and Ku-band.

Eutelsat plans to launch Eutelsat 8 West B in 2015. The satellite will deploy 40 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders. The latter transponders will provide broadcast services to Africa and South America.

In addition, Eutelsat announced that it will move its operational Ku-band satellite to 8 degrees West in 2013 in order to make room for Eutelsat 8 West B. The new satellite will bring additional resources.

According to Michel de Rosen, the CEO of Eutelsat, broadcasters will be able to use the headroom and services of the future Eutelsat 8 West B satellite to enhance business growth.

In addition, the planned satellite will be able to tap the ever-growing demand for Direct-to-Home video experience in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

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India’s GSAT-10 boost Tata Sky’s DTH services

The successful launch of India’s GSAT 10 satellite has boosted hopes for direct-to-home (DTH) service and digital TV provider, Tata Sky. The satellite, which was launched in French Guinea, is equipped with 12 Ku band, 6 extended C band, and 12 C band transponders. 

Tata Sky is eyeing to secure a few transponders from the bird in an effort to answer the increasing bandwidth-demands which have left present networks strained. The company has been relying on 12 Ku-band transponders from another satellite, the Insat 4A, but the growth of the DTH market has been steadily pushing demands for more bandwidth capacity. 

Tata Sky currently offers over 200 channels, both in standard and high-definition. 

Harit Nagpal, the managing director for Tata Sky, is hopeful that securing more Ku band transponders from the new bird will give the company up to 200 additional channels. GSAT 10 is perfect for the company’s plan for expansion as it will be in the same direction as Insat 4A which is 83 degree east. Thus, realignment of dish antennas should not worry customers. 

Other DTH service providers are looking at acquiring several transponders on different satellites to deliver more channels to both regional and national customer bases. Tata Sky would need to invest on a teleport facility that would uplink to the new GSAT 10 as soon as the transponders are secured.

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Eutelsat purchases satellite, customer contracts, orbital rights from GE Capital

Satellite operator Eutelsat Communications was pleased to report its acquisition of the GE-23 Ku-band satellite from GE Capital. In addition to the renamed EUTELSAT 172A, Eutelsat also acquired the satellite’s associated customer contracts and orbital rights 172° East.

The former GE Capital satellite has been renamed EUTELSAT 172A. Eutelsat’s technical and commercial teams are smoothing the transition for established customers.

Eutelsat secured all required regulatory approvals beforehand.

Thales Alenia Space built the former GE-23 satellite for an operational lifespan of 15 years. It was launched in December 2005 and placed in geostationary orbit at 172° East, a position with a wide coverage of the Asia-Pacific region.

The renamed EUTELSAT 172A has 20 Ku-band transponders that can access five interconnecting beams and 18 legacy C-band transponders connected to a trans-Pacific beam. It offers various telecom services to a diverse base of blue chip customers.

The EUTELSAT 172 C-band / Ku-band satellite will support its new owner’s organic growth initiatives. Eutelsat will launch its own EUTELSAT 70B satellite later this year to complement its new acquisition.