Space Systems/Loral today announced that it has been awarded a contract to manufacture a new spacecraft for SES NEW SKIES.
NSS-14 features 52 x 36 MHz equivalent C-band transponders and 72 x 36 MHz equivalent Ku-band transponders. It is expected to be the largest, most powerful satellite in the SES fleet, and expands the company’s ability to provide Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) to the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. FSS satellites operate at a lower power than DBS satellites, requiring a larger dish, usually 3 to 8 feet for the Ku band.
NSS-14 will be located at 338 degrees East, one of the most highly demanded orbital locations for trans-Atlantic traffic. The spacecraft is a state-of-the-art, hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite that includes SS/L’s heritage ion propulsion system and a 15 year design life. The launch isn’t expected until the fourth quarter of 2010.
.jpg)
NSS-7 also operates from 338 degrees east with 49 C-band and 48 Ku-band transponders. Eleven high-powered coverage beams broadcast video, Internet and data traffic throughout Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa.
Space Systems/Loral currently has six 20-kW satellites under construction that are based on its highly flexible 1300 satellite platform.
SES’s biggest customer, EchoStar, asked that their AMC-14 payload be modified to increased coverage flexibility. AMC-14 is slated for March 15 launch and will be positioned at 61.5 degrees West.
International Launch Services, which will launch the spacecraft, is a joint venture of Space Transport Inc., Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow and RSC Energia of Moscow. They have exclusive rights to market the Proton, Russia’s premier heavy-lift vehicle.
Lockheed sold their part in ILS to tiny Space Transport, Inc, based in Forks, Washington, in order to form the United Launch Alliance, a joint EELV venture with Boeing. Lockheed Martin will retain all rights related to their commercial Atlas rockets and will continue to offer commercial Atlas launch services through Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services while Boeing is pushing their Delta IV and SeaLaunch.
Space Transport was pursuing the $10 million Ansari X-Prize for civilian space flight, which was won in October 2004 by Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne. That effort was financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
.gif)
