TerreStar-1 communications satellite launched

The world’s largest commercial communications satellite, TerreStar-1 was launched by Ariane 5 from the Kourou Spaceport on Wednesday July 1.

Lifting off from the ELA-3 launch zone on a rare afternoon departure, the Ariane 5 deployed TerreStar-1 into geostationary transfer orbit 26 minutes later.

With a launch mass of nearly 6,910 kg., TerreStar-1 was carried as a solo payload on the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA mission.

TerreStar-1, produced at Space Systems/Loral’s Palo Alto, California facility, will be located at an orbital position of 111 deg. West. It will operate in the 2-GHz spectrum with an 18-meter deployable reflector and powerful S-band feed array, TerreStar-1 will be able to manage some 500 spot beams.

It is designed to supply secure communications services to governments in emergency situations, as well as to rural communities. The satellite also will provide voice, data and video transmission services to businesses via dual satellite/ground terminals approximately the size of a typical smart phone.

TerreStar-1
http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/
launch-kit-pdf-eng/DDP-TerreStar-1(GB).pdf

Kourou ELA-3 Launch Zone
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/kourou_ela3.html

Arianespace - TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/
2009/609.asp

Photo report: Ariane 5's record-setting mission with TerreStar-1
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/
2009/610.asp