Orbital-Built Optus
D1 Communications Satellite Successfully Launched Aboard Ariane
Rocket
(16 October 2006) Orbital Sciences
Corporation announced today that the Optus D1 commercial communications
satellite, built by Orbital for Optus Networks Pty Limited (Optus) of
Australia, was successfully launched into its targeted orbit aboard an Ariane 5
rocket on Friday, October 13.
The mission originated from the
spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana at approximately 4:56 p.m. (Eastern). The
Optus D1 satellite was deployed into a geosynchronous (GEO) transfer orbit
about 32 minutes after lift-off. Initial communications with the satellite have
been established and it is performing as expected in the early stages of the
mission.
The Optus D1 satellite is the first of two satellites that
Orbital is building for Optus. The second satellite, Optus D2, is scheduled for
completion and launch in 2007. Both of the Optus satellites are based on
Orbital's STAR 2.4 platform, which can generate nearly five kilowatts of
payload power and can weigh over 5,000 pounds (2,500 kilograms) at launch,
making them the largest and most powerful commercial communications spacecraft
in Orbital's satellite product line. The Optus program's design, manufacturing
and testing activities are being carried out at Orbital's state-of-the-art
satellite production facility in Dulles, Virginia.
The Optus D1
satellite will operate in the Ku-band frequencies from its orbital location at
160 degrees East longitude. The satellite is designed to provide fixed
satellite services and direct-to-home television broadcasting services to
Australia and New Zealand.
During the next several days, the Optus D1
spacecraft will perform a series of orbit-raising burns of its onboard rocket
engine to achieve a circular orbit 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometres) above the
Earth. For several weeks afterwards, the mission's engineering team will
conduct comprehensive tests to ensure the spacecraft is ready for final
hand-over to Optus.
Orbital is one of the leading suppliers of GEO
communications satellites, which are based on the STAR family of smaller GEO
satellite platforms and are capable of accommodating most types of commercial
communications payloads. For many applications, the STAR design is an
attractive alternative to the larger, more costly GEO satellites offered by
other industry suppliers. STAR satellites are smaller and significantly less
expensive to manufacture and launch, making them a perfect fit for customers in
the early stages of building their business or for established companies that
wish to replace or add capacity to their network.
Customer demand for
Orbital's STAR GEO satellites has been robust over the past several years.
Since the beginning of 2005, Orbital received orders for STAR satellites from
U.S.-based PanAmSat (now Intelsat), the Horizons joint venture between JSAT of
Japan and PanAmSat/Intelsat, Telenor of Norway, Measat of Malaysia and Alcatel
Alenia Space for SES Americom of the U.S. Including the Optus D1 spacecraft,
Orbital is now in varying stages of design, manufacturing and testing of eight
commercial GEO satellites that will be launched over the next two
years.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small
rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government
customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles,
including low-orbit, geosynchronous-orbit and planetary spacecraft for
communications, remote sensing, scientific and defence missions; ground- and
air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defence
systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers
space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds
satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies
and private vehicle fleet operators.
(source: Orbital
Sciences)