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Sat-na
June, 23
1997
Seven IRIDIUM satellites launched
Ariane 5 Will Launch Two Key Scientific Missions
Hughes to build Sirrus 3
Ariane Announces Four New Launch Contracts
ComStream new VSAT contract
New World-Wide VSAT Industry Forum
Hero Productions
Mexico To Launch Satellite Auction
PanAmSat selects Arianespace for launch of Galaxy XI
PanAmSat Customers Expand Video Services
Loral and Alcatel combine forces
New universal Ku-band combiner
Telefonica Selects DiviCom Digital Video
DBSI Chooses Launch Provider
Head Start programs via satellite
Motorola to Build Global Satellite System
Ariane 5 gets the "green light"
LATE EDITION NEWS
In Brief
Seven IRIDIUM satellites launched
Seven IRIDIUM satellites were launched into orbit on a
Russian manufactured Proton rocket. After 88 minutes, the
satellites separated from the launcher and will spend the
next two weeks undergoing in orbit testing.
The satellites were put in orbit with the following
initial parameters:
" period of revolution_one hour 35 minutes; -- maximum
distance from the Earth's surface (in the apogee) -- 536
kilometres;
" minimal distance from the Earth surface (in the
perigee) -- 514 kilometres;
" inclination of the orbit -- 86.4 degrees.
These satellites are part of the IRIDIUM 66-satellite
network (420 nautical miles) and will be placed into an
adjacent plane to the orbital plane containing the first
five satellites successfully launched on May 5.
This launch is the first of three scheduled Proton
launches to take place in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
next Iridium launch will be on a Delta 2 rocket on July 7.
Ariane 5 Will Launch Two Key Scientific Missions
The Ariane 5 launcher will be used for two new
scientific missions. Following an earlier contract for the
Envisat 1 Earth observation satellite, the European Space
Agency will use Arianespace for the launch of XMM (X-ray
Multi-Mirror) observatory.
The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch system was chosen
because of the XMM's size; weight and mission
characteristics. The launch is scheduled for either mid 1999
or the winter of 1999-2000.
Weighing 3,900 kg (8,580 lb.) at lift-off, the XMM
satellite is part of the ESA's Horizon 2000 scientific
program, along with the Rosetta, Soho and First missions.
This spaceborne telescope will be placed in a very highly-
inclined elliptical orbit, and carry out spectroscopic
measurements of X-ray sources in the universe.
The Envisat 1 multimission polar platform (PPF) will
ensure continuity with current ERS Earth observation
missions, but with enhanced terrestrial and maritime
surveillance capabilities. Built by Matra Marconi Space in
Bristol, UK, Envisat 1 will weigh approximately 10,000 kg
(22,000 lb.) at launch. Scheduled for launch by the end of
1999, Envisat 1 will be placed in a sun-synchronous polar
orbit at an altitude of 800 km (500 miles).
Hughes to build Sirrus 3
Hughes has been awarded a contract for a
telecommunications satellite and ground-station support
services from Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget (NSAB), a joint
venture among Swedish Space Corp., Tele Danmark A/S and
Teracom AB.
Sirius 3, will be an HS 376 high-power model satellite
and will provide direct-to-home television services to the
Scandinavian region. Hughes will also upgrade NSAB's
satellite-control centre at Esrange, Kiruna, and will
provide training to the satellite controllers.
The current NSAB constellation includes Sirius 1, also
an HS 376 model, which was built for British Satellite
Broadcasting and sold to NSAB in-orbit in 1993, and Sirius
2, which is being built by another manufacturer and will be
launched later this year. Sirius 3 will replace Sirius 1
and will be located at 5 degrees east longitude.
Sirius 3 will have 15 Ku-band transponders and will use
gallium arsenide solar cells to generate 1400 watts of
spacecraft power. Hughes will deliver the satellite on-
ground to NSAB in July 1998. Planned service life is 12
years.
Ariane Announces Four New Launch Contracts
Arianespace will launch Sirius 3 during the third
quarter of 1998. Sirius 2 is scheduled to launch later this
summer, and Sirius 3 by the end of 1998." Sirius 3 is being
built by Hughes Space & Communications in El Segundo,
California. Based on the HS 376 HP platform, it will weigh
about 1,450 kg (3,190 lb.) at lift-off and carry 14 Ku-band
transponders. The satellite will provide direct-to-home
digital TV broadcasts to all Scandinavian countries.
Telstar 6 will be the first satellite to be launched
under the multiple-launch contract signed between Space
Systems/Loral and Arianespace. It will be put into orbit in
the fourth quarter of 1998. Both launches will use Ariane
5 launchers.
The Telstar 6 satellite, which is being built by Space
Systems/Loral using the FS 1300 platform with a total of 52
high-powered C- and Ku-band transponders, is part of a turn-
key contract with Loral Skynet. This advanced spacecraft
will allow Skynet to add to its current broadcast
syndication neighbourhood on Telstar 4 and 5, and to deliver
direct-to-home and satellite news-gathering services. The
satellite's payload will be configured like the recently
launched Telstar 5, creating redundancy for Skynet's
customers. The launch mass of the satellite will be
approximately 3,600 kg and its final orbital location will
be 93 degrees West.
Arianespace and Space Systems/Loral multiple-launch
long-term contract signed in May 1996 has been extended
another year, to 2001.
Arianespace has also signed two more communications
satellite launch contracts with an undisclosed party.
ComStream new VSAT contract
ComStream Corp. reports a contract with Samart
Corp. to supply VSATPlus II technology to the Telephone
Organisation of Thailand (TOT) for a large time division
multiple access (TDMA) VSAT satellite rural telephony
network.
At each remote site, a VSATPlus II terminal will be
connected to three or more pay telephones and/or standard
telephones. The remote VSATPlus II terminals transmit to
the Thaicom II satellite, which then directs the traffic to
its specified address or closest gateway, whether within the
region or beyond. The pay telephones are located near a
public service, such as a post office, so that the people of
the area can have easy access to the new telephone system.
New World-Wide VSAT Industry Forum
A June 4 meeting in London attracted 25 companies
representing all segment's of the VSAT market. The initial
charter for the non-profit and independent forum, known as
the Global VSAT Forum, is to represent all elements of the
VSAT industry in international, regional, and national
organisations; to lobby for fair and consistent
telecommunications regulations and related legislation; and
to promote VSAT technology and services world-wide as a
mainstream communications medium. The Forum is focused on
telecommunication by satellite and does not include radio or
television broadcast.
In the next few months, the Forum expects to establish
communications with important regulatory organisations such
as the ITU, WTO, FCC and European Commission. The Forum
also plans to devote considerable time to promoting itself
to prospective members and other interested parties,
establishing a World Wide Web site and preparing a general
meeting to introduce the Global VSAT Forum to the industry.
Hero Productions
Hero Productions has signed a five-year agreement with
Hallmark Entertainment Networks, Inc. to provide the
programmer with additional satellite capacity, uplink and
master control services for its Latin American network as of
August 1. The deal is valued at $53 million.
Hallmark Entertainment Network is a 24-hour Spanish and
Portuguese channel comprised entirely of made-for-television
movies and miniseries produced by Hallmark Entertainment,
Inc. The network currently serves nearly two million
subscribers in Mexico, Central America and the northern tier
of South America,
Hero will provide Hallmark digital capacity on Intelsat 601,
to be transferred to Intelsat 806 currently scheduled to
launch in the first half of 1998. Intelsat 806 will allow
the networks coverage into Spain and Portugal, as well as
Latin America, under the same high-powered beam.
Mexico To Launch Satellite Auction
The public bidding for Mexico's satellites will
start early next month as part of a partial privatisation
drive The Mexican government however will retain a minority
(25%) stake in the satellites through a new state-owned
entity, Satelites Mexicanos SA.
The auction will include, Morelos I, Solidarid I and
II, their control centres and the launch replacement
satellite for Morelos II. Winners will likely be announced
late this fall.
PanAmSat selects Arianespace for launch of Galaxy XI
PanAmSat has signed an agreement with Arianespace to
launch a new PanAmSat satellite in early 1999.
The new launch, which was exercised as part of a
previously signed multi-launch agreement between the
companies, will take place on an Ariane launch vehicle from
the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. PanAmSat
plans to use the launch to deploy a high-power HS 702
satellite.
PanAmSat intends to use the launch for its second HS
702 satellite, built by Hughes Space and Communications Co.
PanAmSat is currently determining the communications payload
and expected orbital location for the satellite. The HS 702
is Hughes' next-generation satellite and offers the highest
transmissions power available on any commercial spacecraft.
PanAmSat plans to launch its first HS 702 satellite, called
Galaxy XI, in 1998.
PanAmSat Customers Expand Video Services
Good news for wild feeds watchers this week. Three
PanAmSat customers will continue to use PanAmSat satellites
to distribute their programming. Buena Vista Television will
continue to use its current transponder on Galaxy IV
satellite for distribution of syndicated programming
throughout the United States. In addition, Vista Satellite
Communications, Inc., and Vyvx, Inc., have extended their
long-term service agreements for transponder capacity on
PanAmSat's Galaxy VI satellite. Vyvx also has increased its
capacity on Galaxy VI from one transponder to two.
Loral and Alcatel combine forces
Loral Space and Alcatel have formed a strategic
partnership to jointly develop, deploy and operate high-
speed global multimedia satellite networks.
The agreement includes cross investments in Loral's
geostationary (GEO) satellite-based CyberStar project and
Alcatel's low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite-based SkyBridge
project. Each company will participate in the development
of the two projects, initially committing to invest $30
million in the other's respective project. Each project
will be managed separately, but the two companies have
agreed to facilitate a co-ordinated approach to the two
networks, including integrated marketing.
Services will be introduced in the market through
leased transponders in early 1998 and subsequently through
dedicated geostationary satellites in 1999 and a
constellation of LEO satellites in 2001.
The $1.6 billion CyberStar system is a geostationary
satellite-based open protocol, digital telecommunications
system that will offer a variety of low-cost, high-speed,
data and telecommunications services World-Wide from leased
Ku-band satellite transponders beginning in late 1997, and
through a dedicated constellation of geosynchronous Ka-band
satellites beginning in 1999.
CyberStar services will be delivered through a
constellation of three interconnected geostationary
satellites positioned over the Americas, Europe and the
Middle East, and Asia. The satellites will integrate with a
network of terrestrial systems. The first of three
CyberStar satellites is scheduled for launch and operation
in 1999.
The $3.5 billion SkyBridge system, based on 64 low-
earth-orbit satellites, will provide bandwidth on demand at
very competitive prices for residential and business
customers, ranging from high-speed Internet access to highly
interactive services including World-Wide enterprise
networking and video-conferencing.
SkyBridge is scheduled to enter service in 2001 with a half
constellation of 32 satellites, doubling capacity with an
additional 32 as demand builds up and revenue starts
flowing. The services of SkyBridge will be delivered World-
Wide to final users through local and regional service
providers.
New universal Ku-band combiner
Andrew Corporation has introduced a new Universal Ku-
Band combiner. Designed to address a wide variety of Ku-Band
frequency ranges, the Universal Ku-Band combiner can be used
on Andrew Corporation's 3.7, 4.6, 5.6 and 7.6 metre earth
station antennas.
The combiner is the portion of the feed system that
converts signals provided either from or to the satellite.
In receive mode, the combiner receives a signal from the
satellite and separates the frequencies and polarisation
into different ports. In transmit mode, the combiner takes
signals from the separate ports and combines them into one
signal which is sent up the combiner body to the feed horn
and on to the satellite.
Users of the Universal Ku-Band combiner can select from
either a two- or a four-port version. The two-port version
covers the frequency bands of receive 10.7-13.25 GHz and
transmit 13.75-14.8 GHz.
The four-port version provides two frequency options:
Option 1 covers the receive 10.7-12.75 GHz and transmit
13.75-14.8 GHz frequency ranges which are used in typical
international applications; Option 2 covers the receive 10.7-
11.7 GHz and transmit 12.75-13.25 GHz and 13.75-14.8 GHz
ranges used for ASTRA and Hotbird applications.
Telefonica Selects DiviCom Digital Video
Distribuidora de Television Digital (DTS) an
organisation headed by Telefonica of Spain, with Television
Espanola (Spanish TV), and the Mexican company Televisa has
selected DiviCom's compression system for the Spanish
Digital Platform (V!a Digital).
Telefonica projects that by the year 2000 it will have
a considerable number of subscribers, many of which are
expected to be outside Spain. Service is expected to begin
this year, on September 1.
DBSI Chooses Launch Provider
E-SAT, Inc., owned jointly by EchoStar and DBS
Industries, intends to enter into a launch services contract
with EUROCKOT Launch Services GmbH of Bremen, Germany to
launch E-SAT's constellation of six low earth orbit (LEO)
satellites. E-SAT executed a Launch Reservation Agreement
in March 1997 with EUROCKOT to secure launch opportunities
beginning in the fourth quarter of 1998.
The E-SAT constellation will make its capacity
available for a number of telecommunications services and,
through DBS Industries' wholly owned subsidiary Global
Energy Metering Service, Inc. (GEMS), will initially provide
automated meter reading and data messaging services to the
electric and natural gas utility industries.
EUROCKOT will furnish two launches scheduled
approximately six months apart with the first launch
scheduled during the fourth quarter of 1998. The commercial
launch vehicle designated "ROCKOT" is a manoeuvrable three-
stage rocket. Each launch will insert three satellites into
its desired sun-synchronous orbit.
E-SAT is awaiting final licensing approval, expected
during this summer, from the Federal Communications
Commission for its LEO satellite constellation.
Head Start programs via satellite
EchoStar and National Head Start Association will
create a dedicated direct broadcast satellite network for
Head Start teachers and children.
Called "Heads Up," the satellite network will be aimed
at 16,636 Head Start centres serving 750,000 low-income pre-
school children in 42,500 classrooms. NHSA will provide at
least four hours of programming each week to Head Start
centres, including teacher, parent and pupil training
materials.
EchoStar is providing high-powered satellite broadcast
time, satellite television receivers and 18-inch dishes to
the Head Start program to get the network underway.
Individual Head Start centres will decide on their
participation in the Heads Up network, but it is estimated
that 3,000 centres serving multiple classrooms will
initially join the network.
Motorola to Build Global Satellite System
Motorola Inc. revealed plans to build a 12.9 billion
US dollar global satellite network to provide voice, data
and video communications to telephone companies, businesses
and telecommuters.
Celestri could use both LEO and GEO satellites. The 63-
satellite Celestri program would be Motorola's third
satellite venture. Motorola has a 25 percent in Iridium LLC
It has also proposed a project called M-Star, a 6.1 billion
dollar venture that will use 72 satellites. Motorola's
Celestri would compete with Teledisc the venture backed by
Microsoft and others.
Ariane 5 gets the "green light"
The countdown has begun on the next launch of the
Ariane 5 launcher. Over the next few weeks, mechanical,
fluid and electrical integration of the cryogenic main
stage, the solid booster stage, the vehicle equipment bay
and the upper stage of the launcher will be proceeding in
the Launcher Integration Building.
Preparatory work will also be under way in the Final
Assembly Building on the upper composite: the Speltra, the
fairing and the payload made up of two technological
instrument platforms, Maqsat H and B and two satellites:
Teamsat (a satellite flying five European technology
experiments and Amsat P3D (an international radio amateur
satellite). Meanwhile, various tests, flight program
functional simulations in particular, will be continuing in
Europe.
The target date for the Ariane 502 flight now being set
for the end of September.
LATE EDITION NEWS
" Hughes Space unit will launch at least five satellites
with an option for five more between the second half of 1998
and the end of 2006 on Long March rockets.
" According to the Beijing Meteorological Satellite
Ground Station it is receiving pictures from the recently
launched meteorological satellite Fengyun 2 (105E)
" BSkyB shares lost seven percent of their value or
US$1.2 billion late in week. The reason cited for the loss
included the recent news that Sam Chislom plans to retire
from BSkyB and the possible problems with its proposed
digital licence before the ITC.
Upcoming Launches
Next Ariane Launch Next Atlas/Delta Launch
Intelsat 802 --June 25, 1997 Iridium -- July 8, 1997
Flight 96
Satellite Intelsat 802
Manufacturer Lockheed
Martin
Type 7000
Mass at Lift- 3,420
Off
Stabilisation 3-axis
Payload 36 C Band
6 Ku Band
Design Life 15 years
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