Successful launch for SKYNET4F
Kourou, 07 February 2001
The UK Ministry of Defence's latest and last SKYNET 4 spacecraft, designed and built by Astrium in the UK to provide British military satellite communications was successfully launched on an Ariane 4 rocket from Kourou in French Guiana on Wednesday 7th February 2001 at 8:05 pm local time.
Skynet 4F was carried inside the SPELDA dual launch structure whilst the Sicral satellite, built by Alenia Spazio for the Italian Ministry of Defence, was on top and released first.
Astrium's "delivery-in-orbit" contract includes the launch of the satellite and also provides for operational control and in-orbit testing of the satellite prior to hand-over to the customer.
SKYNET 4F is the third and last of the SKYNET 4, Stage 2 series. SKYNET 4D was launched from Cape Canaveral, USA on 10th January 1998 and SKYNET 4E on 26th February 1999 from Kourou. As an enhanced version of the three SKYNET 4, Stage 1 satellites and the two similar NATO IV spacecraft, the modified communications payload incorporates steerable antennas for SHF spot beam communications and provides increased power and a superior anti-jamming capability whilst, at UHF, a fully tuneable system offers increased flexibility.
ASTRIUM, formed in May 2000 by the merger of Matra Marconi Space and the space division of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, is Europe's leading space company and number 3 in the world. A joint venture owned 75% by EADS and 25% by BAE SYSTEMS, Astrium employs a total of 7,500 people in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. With an annual turnover of some 2 billion Euros, its activities cover the full range of space activities including scientific exploration, civil and military Earth observation and communications, ground systems and navigation constellations, launchers and orbital infrastructure.
The SKYNET 4 communications payload module
A variety of spot and global beams enables the SKYNET 4 satellite to serve a widely dispersed and extensive inventory of Earth stations on land, sea and in the air, ranging from small man-portable radio sets and aircraft terminals to rugged systems on naval vessels and submarines and the large anchor stations on land. SKYNET 4 employs signal processing and anti-jamming features and its ability to survive in the harshest of electronic warfare environments is extremely important.
The SKYNET 4D, 4E & 4F (stage 2) enhancements
The design of the SKYNET, Stage 2 satellites is derived from the earlier Stage 1 spacecraft and incorporates a number of changes to provide increased operational flexibility and to incorporate the benefits of more modern technology.
Spacecraft Platform
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Repackaged Telemetry, Tracking & Control (TT & C) system
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Increased autonomous operation
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Improved electrical power system
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Enhanced reaction control system
Communications Payload
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Tuneable UHF
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Power of each of the two UHF transponders increased to 50 watts; each serving one channel of 25 kHz
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New Earth cover helical UHF antenna
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Steerable high power spot SHF transmit and receive antenna
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Earth cover and steerable European beam antenna
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Power of each of the three SHF transponders increased to 50 watts
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Revised SHF channel bandwidths, to between 60 and 125 MHz
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New SHF beacon frequencies
For further information contact:
ASTRIUM-UK
Alistair SCOTT
+44 (0)1438 773698
ASTRIUM-F
Rémi ROLAND
+33 (0)1 34 88 35 78
Precio
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