KA-SAT

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KA-SAT
KA-SAT artist view.png
Artist rendering of the KA-SAT satellite
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorEutelsat
COSPAR ID2010-069A
SATCAT no.37258Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
BusEurostar E3000
ManufacturerEADS Astrium
Launch mass6,150 kilograms (13,560 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date26 December 2010 (2010-12-26)
RocketProton-M/Briz-M
Launch siteBaikonur 200/39
ContractorILS[1]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
 

KA-SAT is a high-throughput telecommunications satellite owned by Eutelsat. The satellite provides broadband Internet access services across Europe and also a small area of the Middle East,[2] and additionally the Saorsat TV service to Ireland. It is positioned at 9°E,[3] joining the Eurobird 9A Ku band satellite. KA-SAT was manufactured by EADS Astrium, based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, with a total weight of 6 tons.[1] It was launched by Proton in December 2010.[2] The satellite is named after the Ka band frequency, which is used on the spacecraft.

Spacecraft[]

The spacecraft is equipped with four multi-feed deployable antennas with enhanced pointing accuracy and a high-efficiency repeater[citation needed]. It is configured with 82 spotbeams,[2] making it the most advanced multi-spot satellite designed in the world to date[citation needed]. Each spotbeam is associated with a 237 MHz wide transponder, allowing a data bit rate throughput of 475 Mbit/s per spot.

The spacecraft power is about 14 kW and the payload DC power is 11 kW. The solar array power provides up to 16 kW. The payload mass is about 1000 kg, the dry mass is about 3170 kg, the launch mass was 6100 kg. The manoeuvre lifetime in orbit is estimated to 16 years.

Broadband Internet access service[]

According to Eutelsat, KA-SAT will be able to provide broadband Internet access to potentially more than one million homes. The company invested about €350 million in the program, including the satellite manufacturing and launch.

KA-SAT features a high level of frequency reuse enabling the system to achieve a total capacity of more than 90 Gbit/s.[4][5] The introduction of KA-SAT has tripled the total capacity commercialized by Eutelsat[citation needed].

KA-SAT coverage over Europe and the Mediterranean Basin (different colors show frequency reuse)

The satellite operates in conjunction with ten terrestrial teleports (two of them as a backup) providing Internet gateway services, parts of the Eutelsat's Tooway service[citation needed], all of them linked by the "KA-SAT ring", a terrestrial telecommunication high-speed network. The service is centrally operated from 's NOC based in Torino (Italy) (Skylogic is a subsidiary of Eutelsat).

Communication systems[]

The data communications used on the KA-SAT satellite are transmitted to and from equipment manufactured by ViaSat:

  • in the Eutelsat's teleports (Internet gateways), the ViaSat "SurfBeam 2" hub system;
  • at the customer site, the ViaSat "SurfBeam 2" modem as a customer-premises equipment.

"SurfBeam 2" is a modified version of the DOCSIS protocol adapted by ViaSat Inc. for the satellite physical link.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "KA-SAT Mission Overview" (PDF). International Launch Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2010.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jonathan Amos (26 December 2010). "Ka-Sat net-dedicated spacecraft lifts off". BBC News.
  3. ^ Yang Lina (27 December 2010). "Russia puts European satellite into orbit". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Eutelsat to Drive Satellite Broadband to New Frontiers with First Full Ka-Band Satellite Infrastructure" (PDF) (Press release). Eutelsat. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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