Horizons-3e

Horizons-3e
Names

Horizons-3e

IS-H3e
Mission type Communication
Operator Intelsat/SKY Perfect JSAT Group
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft IS-H3e
Bus Boeing 702MP
Manufacturer Boeing
Start of mission
Launch date 2018 (Planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geosynchronous
Longitude 169° East (Planned)
Transponders
Band C band and Ku band
Coverage area Pacific Ocean Region
EpicNG
← Intelsat 37e

Horizons-3e, also known as IS-H3e, is a high throughput geostationary communications satellite ordered by Horizons Satellites, a joint venture of Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It is to be designed and manufactured by Boeing on the Boeing-702MP platform.[1][2]

It is slated to be the sixth satellite of the EpicNG service, and will cover the Pacific Ocean Region from the 169° East longitude.[3] It has a mixed C band and Ku band and is expected to launch in 2018.[1][2]

Satellite description

Horizons-3e is being designed and manufactured by Boeing on the Boeing 702MP satellite bus. It will have an estimated launch mass of 6 t (6.6 tons) and a design life of more than 15 years.[1]

It is powered by two wings, with four panels each, of triple-junction GsAs solar cells.[4][1] The 702MP platform was designed to generate between 6kW and 12kW.[4]

It's payload will be the seventh high throughput EpicNG deployment. The EpicNG is characterized by the implementation of frequency reuse thanks to a mix of frequency and polarization in small spot beams. Not only applied to the classical HTS Ka band, but also applying the same technique in Ku band and C band. The EpicNG series also keep the use of wide beams to offer high throughput and broadcast capabilities in the same satellite.[5]

History

Horizons Satellite was originally an equal share joint venture with PanAmSat. It ordered its first satellite, Horizons-1/Galaxy 13 from Boeing in middle 2001 and successfully launched it in October 1, 2003.[6]During 2005, PanAmSat was taken over by Intelsat, but the relationship continued and on August 30, 2005, Horizons Satellite ordered a GEOStar-2 based satellite, Horizons-2, which successfully launched on December 21, 2007.[7][8]

In July 2009, Intelsat became the first customer of the Boeing 702MP platform, when it place an order for four spacecrafts, Intelsat 21, Intelsat 22, Intelsat 27 and the first EpicNG satellite, Intelsat 29e.[4]

On June 7, 2012, Intelsat announced the EpicNG platform. It would improve available bandwidth thanks to the use of frequency reuse and polarization and feature spot and wide beams, enabling high bandwidth and broadcast applications on a backward compatible way. The first two satellites would be Intelsat 29e and Intelsat 33e.[9] On September 4, 2012, Intelsat and Boeing announced that Intelsat 29e, the first EpicNG satellite, would be made by Boeing on the 702MP platform, completing the 2009 order of four such satellites.[10]

In May 2013 Intelsat ordered a further four 702MP-based EpicNG satellites, Intelsat 32e, Intelsat 33e and two as of August 2016 unnamed spacecraft. And in July 2014 a sixth Epic was ordered, Intelsat 35e.[4][11]

In a deal that took 18 month, on November 4, 2015 Intelsat and JSAT announced their fourth joint satellite, after Horizons-1, Horizons-2 and Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85, Horizons-3e. It would be the seventh high throughput satellite in the Intelsat fleet, and complete Intelsat EpicNG family of satellites by covering the Pacific Ocean Region with C band and Ku band.[12][13][14][15]

During an interview with Intelsat's CEO Stephen Spengler on February 29, 2016, it was disclosed that Intelsat 35e was expected to launch in 2017.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-07-25). "Intelsat 35e". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  2. 1 2 "Horizons 3E". Satbeams. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  3. 1 2 "Intelsa't's Epic Wager" (PDF). Space News. February 29, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Intelsat" (PDF). Boeing. October 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  5. ↑ "White Paper — The Intelsat EpicNG Platform" (PDF). Intelsat. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  6. ↑ Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-04-21). "Galaxy 13 / Horizons 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  7. ↑ Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-04-21). "Horizons 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  8. ↑ "Orbital Receives Contract for Horizons-2 Commercial Communications Satellite; Joint Venture Between PanAmSat and JSAT to Utilize Company's STAR(TM) Small Geosynchronous Satellite Platform". BusinessWire.com. Orbital Sciences Corporation. August 30, 2005. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  9. ↑ "Intelsat Announces the Intelsat EpicNG Satellite Platform, a High Performance Enhancement to the World's Leading Commercial Satellite Fleet". Intelsat. June 7, 2012. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  10. ↑ "Boeing 702MP Selected for First Intelsat EpicNG Satellite". Intelsat. September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  11. ↑ "Boeing to Build Intelsat 35e EpicNG Satellite". July 8, 2014. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  12. ↑ "Intelsat and JSAT to Bring High Throughput Capacity to Asia Pacific to Meet Growing Mobility and Broadband Demands". Intelsat. November 4, 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  13. ↑ "High Throughput Capacity on the Horizon in the POR". Intelsat. November 12, 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  14. ↑ Magan, Veronica (November 4, 2015). "Intelsat, JSAT Partner for Horizon 3e High Throughput Satellite for Asia Pacific". Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  15. ↑ Holmes, Mark (November 16, 2015). "Intelsat Exec Says Sky Perfect JSAT Deal Took 18 Months to Do". Retrieved 2016-09-01.
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