Inmarsat continues to offer unrivaled industry support
Posted: 6 July 2003
Tracking, telemetry and command network successfully supports
back-to-back transfer orbit operations of two different satellites
Inmarsat Limited, the Total Communications Network, announced
that its Satellite Control Department has provided launch support
activity for Astrium, Europe’s number one space company, less
than two days after completing launch activity for the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
This latest mission brings the number of external support launches
to 10, building on Inmarsat’s 23 year heritage in designing,
implementing and operating satellite networks.
As part of the Satellite Control Department, Inmarsat’s Transfer
Orbit and Payload testing support (TOPS) service offers flexible
contracting and proven capability to provide post-launch transfer-orbit
operations via Inmarsat’s Satellite Control Centre in London
and three tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) stations in
Italy, China and Canada.
Inmarsat TT&C support is a multi-faceted operation supporting
customer-specific requirements including telecommand and telemetry,
tracking and ranging of satellites, flight dynamics and voice and
data links via Inmarsat’s communications network.
The launch of the Astrium Hellas-Sat satellite took place on May
13th on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
It is the first telecommunications satellite for Greece and Cyprus
and will be used to broadcast Direct To Home TV and broadband services
as well as the next year’s summer Olympic Games from Athens.
This launch was the tenth contract for the Inmarsat team and includes
eight days of mission support, in which the spacecraft is manoeuvred
into position, plus a further 26 days on-station support in its
final position.
Five days earlier, the Inmarsat TOPS team started supporting the
launch of the ISRO GSAT-2 satellite, the fourth under a multi-satellite
support contract between Inmarsat and ISRO.
Richard Denny, Inmarsat's vice-president, Satellite and Network
Operations division said, “The Hellas-Sat satellite is the
tenth external launch project for our TOPS programme and second
in the space of a few days for our team. Being selected by world-class
companies such as Astrium, and international space organisations
such as ISRO, to provide support services is testament to our ability
to provide world-class support services for leading satellite operators.
Our teams have shown the expertise, experience and capability to
lead the field and we are excited about working with many more companies
moving forward.”
The Inmarsat Satellite Control Centre in London that manages the
TOPS programme, was recently reopened by UK Science and Technology
Minister, Lord Sainsbury. This state-of-the-art facility had a major
redesign and refurbishment in advance of the launch of the first
of Inmarsat’s latest generation of satellites, Inmarsat-4
in 2004.
About Inmarsat Limited
- Inmarsat Ltd owns and operates a unique global mobile satellite
network and delivers its communications solutions through a worldwide
network of approximately 260 distributors and other service providers
operating in over 80 countries to end users in the maritime, land
and aeronautical sectors.
- Inmarsat Ltd has a portfolio of mobile satellite solutions,
including voice, fax, intranet and Internet access and other data
services.
- Inmarsat Ltd has more than 23 years of experience in designing,
implementing and operating satellite networks.
- At the end of May 2003, approximately 275,000 terminals were
registered to access Inmarsat Ltd’s services.
- Inmarsat Ltd is also supported by partners in the fields of
equipment manufacture, software provision and systems integration.
- Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of Inmarsat Ventures plc.
- Inmarsat is the exclusive global partner of the FIA World Rally
Championships.
For more information http://www.inmarsat.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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