Lockheed Martin A2100
The A2100 is a communications satellite spacecraft model made by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in the 1990s-2010s for telecommunications in geosynchronous orbit, as well as GOES-R weather satellites and GPS Block IIIA satellites.[1] [2]
The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed for a variety of telecommunications needs including Ka band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku band payload configurations, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku band frequency spectrum, and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band and S-band payloads.[3]
The A2100 satellite system was developed by a Skunk Works team at the Astro Space East Windsor, New Jersey facility. A group of Space Architects, including Brian Stewart, John Close, Pete Wise, Jim Wilson (GE R&D Lab), and Keith Davies delivered a flexible common bus with fewer components, lower spacecraft weight, and reduced customer delivery time.[4]
The first satellite, AMC-1, was launched September 8, 1996, and has achieved 15-year on-orbit service life.[5] Since 1996 there have been over 45 of the A2100 based satellites launched, with over 400 years of total on-orbit service.[6] Recent A2100 spacecraft include JCSAT-13 and VINASAT-2, which were launched May, 2012 on an Ariane 5 rocket. [7]
In 2002 Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems was given a Frost and Sullivan Satellite Reliability Award for excellence in the production of flexible and reliable communications satellites used in geosynchronous Earth orbit.[8]
A2100 customers includes communications companies around the world, including Astra, Telesat, SKY Perfect JSAT Group and others.
Propulsion system
The attitude control system includes reaction wheels,[9] with momentum desaturation and main motor maneuver attitude control propulsion provided by small monopropellant hydrazine motors. This hydrazine supply is contained in a central propellant tank of 0.90 m diameter and up to 2.00 m length depending on the customer's requirements.[10] This tank's maximum length was later increased to 2.55 m.[11] The liquid apogee engine uses hydrazine fuel from the central tank along with nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer from two flanking tanks of 0.54 m diameter and up to 1.65 m long.[12] Orbit maintenance is performed by the small hydrazine motors and ion thrusters.[13] The maximum propellant supply (with the largest tanks at 95% fill factor) are 1368 kg of hydrazine fuel and 627 kg of nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer.
According to Moog-ISP, the A2100 platform uses its LEROS bipropellant Liquid Apogee Engine.[14]
References
- ↑ Kline, Allan (3 June 1997). "Lockheed Links Up with Intersputnik in Space". Washington Times – via Questia (subscription required) . Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin: A2100"
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin: A2100"
- ↑ "A2100 History"
- ↑ "First Lockheed Martin-Built A2100 Communications Satellite Marks 15 Years of On-Orbit Operations". Defense & Aerospace Week – via HighBeam (subscription required) . September 21, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin-Built A2100 Satellites: Over 400 Cumulative Years In Orbit And Counting"
- ↑ "Ariane 5 ECA launches JCSAT-13 and VINASAT-2 into orbit"
- ↑ "Frost & Sullivan Award
- ↑ "Global Positioning System III overview and contractors"
- ↑ "ATK SSI P/N 80395-1 Datasheet"
- ↑ "ATK SSI P/N 80443-1
- ↑ "ATK SSI P/N 80405-1 Datasheet"
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin-Built A2100 Satellites: Over 400 Cumulative Years In Orbit And Counting"
- ↑ "Thrusters". Moog Inc. Retrieved 2016-08-09.