Mid-year, AMERICOM-21, known as AMC-21, should launch. The spacecraft, being built by Alcatel Alenia Space, incorporates Orbital Sciences’ STAR-2 satellite bus. The lift-off will be via an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport located in French Guiana. This will be an all Ku-band satellite to operate from 125° W, which is a new location for SES AMERICOM.
AMC-21 will supplement SES AMERICOM’s fleet of 16 satellites over the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company is part of SES’ family of satellite operating companies and has been in business in the United States for more than 30 years.
About SES AMERICOM
SES AMERICOM is the largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S. SES AMERICOM is an SES company and operates a fleet of 17 spacecraft in orbital positions. As a member of the SES family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region of the world via a fleet of more than 40 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions.
SES AMERICOM provides service throughout the Americas as well as into Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia as well as over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. SES AMERICOM’s network ops centers and major earth stations collect as much as 4,000 bits of data every other second from a single satellite. They track all components to make certain their fleet operates at optimal levels, 24x7x365, all around the world. Precision fleet management is the order of the day for their customers, handled by an experienced staff of operators who analyze the collected precision data points to ensure 24-hour satellite access, uplink services as well as fleet monitoring and control. The company’s headquarters are in Princeton, New Jersey.
SES AMERICOM is located at 4 Research Way, Princeton, New Jersey and the company’s website can be accessed at
http://www.ses-americom.com.
About STAR Bus from Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital’s STAR Bus satellite platform is designed for 15-year missions in geosynchronous orbit. The structure itself consists of a rectangular body with a central, composite thrust tube housing the apogee kick motor. Payload equipment is mounted on the north and south side panels and on the nadir-facing deck. This provides excellent fields of view for Earth-viewing instruments and for thermal radiators. Articulated, sun tracking solar arrays are deployed in two wings from the north and south faces of the aircraft. The STAR Bus can be adapted to technology demos as well as as Earth and space science programs. Payloads up to 200 kg and 555 W can be accommodated for 15-year missions. Standard interfaces and protocols, such as MIL-STD-1553, CCSDS and 28V power simplify integration. STAR Bus is able to withstand the severe environments of high altitude orbits and provides the large impulse required to attain geosynchronous orbit. Orbital Sciences Corporation is located in Dulles, Virginia.
