Mexsat Bicentenario Ku-band satellite successfully signals from space

Satellite manufacturer Orbital Sciences reported that it has picked up the first signals from the Mexsat Bicentenario C-/Ku-band satellite after its recent launch.

The first of a trio of satellites manufactured by Boeing and Orbital Sciences for the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) of Mexico, Mexsat Bicentenario is a new hybrid C-band and Ku-band satellite. It will improve and provide satellite communications services for domestic, military, civil, and humanitarian consumers in Mexico.

Orbital used its GEOStar-2 platform as the template for the Bicentenario design. The other two communications satellites will be built by prime contractor Boeing. The Boeing satellites are modified 702HP geomobile platforms and set to be launched in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Boeing will also handle integration duties for the Mexsat satellite network. When completed, the network will be composed of three communications satellites (including Bicentenario itself), a pair of ground telemetry and control sites, the associated network operations systems, and reference user terminals.

Orbital will provide command and control ground equipment and software for the Mexsat Bicentenario satellite. It will also extend associated training and operational documentation to Mexsat personnel.

EUTELSAT 21B Ku-band satellite fully enters commercial service

Eutelsat Communications proudly declared that its powerful EUTELSAT 21B Ku-band satellite has fully entered commercial service. The Company's control center closely collaborated with its clients and uplink services providers to ensure the smooth transfer of all traffic from the older EUTELSAT 21A satellite to the new satellite.

A wide range of users like broadcasters, enterprises, government administrations, news agencies, and telcos will benefit from the vast new dimension of satellite communications services offered by the EUTELSAT 21B satellite from its 21.5° East orbital slot.

The EUTELSAT 21B satellite carries 40 Ku-band transponders compared to the 29 on EUTELSAT 21A. The new satellite also has an enhanced Widebeam which covers Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia. Finally, its two high-energy beams deliver data, satellite broadband, and professional video services to the North-West African region and the Middle East/Central Asian region respectively. These options allow Eutelsat customers to either operate their services within a beam, or to interconnect between beams.

The older EUTELSAT 21A will move to a new operations base at the 48 degrees East orbital slot. Meanwhile, the EUTELSAT 70B satellite is now going through in-orbit testing before entering service in the middle of January 2013.