Author Topic: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform  (Read 7542 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

 

ORBITAL INTRODUCES THE GEOSTAR-3 COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE PLATFORM

 

-- Medium-Class Satellite Enables Company to Address Broader Market Opportunities for FSS, DTH and HTS Applications With Up To 8 Kilowatts of Payload Power --

-- Orbital to Offer New Hybrid Design Combining Traditional and Electric Propulsion for Orbit Raising and Station Keeping --

 

(Dulles, VA 10 March 2014) – Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today introduced its GEOStar-3TM satellite platform, stating the program is now ready for delivery to commercial satellite operators on production schedules of 24 to 27 months.  The medium-class GEOStar-3 platform is an extension of Orbital’s highly successful small-class GEOStar-2 bus that has led its market niche for the past decade.  This evolutionary technology upgrade represents an incremental expansion of the company’s flight-proven, low-risk product line, based on a standard platform with configure-to-order payload flexibility to maximize  customer value for fixed satellite services (FSS), direct to home (DTH) and high throughput satellite (HTS) applications. 

 

“The enhanced capacity, flexibility and scalability of the GEOStar-3 platform enables us to address the requirements of the medium-size satellite market, offering customers more payload power, higher throughput and better overall value,” said Mr. Christopher Richmond, Orbital’s Senior Vice President of its Communications Satellite business unit.  “This product expands Orbital’s addressable market, while improving our reliability and delivery schedules to customers around the world, including the high-growth, high-throughput satellite segment.”

 

The GEOStar-3 platform incorporates key enhancements that evolved from the GEOStar-2 bus, including an upgraded electrical power system that boosts payload power capability from 5 kilowatts up to 8 kilowatts and a physically larger bus allowing the vehicle to support communications payloads weighing up to 800 kilograms.

 

The company is currently under contract to deliver the first GEOStar-3 in early 2016 and is in active negotiations with several other customers for additional orders, including for its new hybrid electric propulsion (EP) platform option.  The hybrid GEOStar-3 design uses traditional chemical propulsion to reach orbit in a matter of days, not months like a full EP satellite, and then performs station-keeping operations for 15 years or more with EP, resulting in an optimum mass-efficient system.   

 

Orbital also designed the GEOStar-3 platform to enable dual-launch configurations.  The ability to stack two GEOStar satellites on a single launch vehicle significantly reduces the overall system cost and provides the widest array of launch options possible, a key benefit of the GEOStar-3 platform to Orbital’s customers.

 

The GEOStar-3 satellite will continue Orbital’s tradition of industry-leading short-cycle delivery schedules.  The company’s small-class GEOStar-2 spacecraft are regularly delivered in 22 to 24 months and the company expects to deliver the medium-class GEOStar-3 spacecraft in 24 to 27 months.  Like the GEOStar-2 satellite, the GEOStar-3 platform is designed for a service life of at least 15 years.   
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Ronsmytheiii

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23394
  • Liked: 1879
  • Likes Given: 1023

Online Robotbeat

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39271
  • Minnesota
  • Liked: 25240
  • Likes Given: 12115
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #2 on: 03/11/2014 03:12 am »
Sounds like a direct competitor to the Boeing 702 all electric variant. And perfect for launching on Falcon 9.
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Online Galactic Penguin SST

Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #3 on: 03/11/2014 03:15 am »
IIRC didn't some unnamed European customer ordered one back in 2012?
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Star One

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13997
  • UK
  • Liked: 3974
  • Likes Given: 220
Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #4 on: 03/11/2014 06:43 am »
Sounds like a direct competitor to the Boeing 702 all electric variant. And perfect for launching on Falcon 9.

Does everything have to come back to Falcon 9. There are other launchers available.
« Last Edit: 03/11/2014 02:56 pm by Star One »

Offline Prober

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10348
  • Save the spin....I'm keeping you honest!
  • Nevada
  • Liked: 721
  • Likes Given: 729
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #5 on: 03/11/2014 12:06 pm »

Sounds like a direct competitor to the Boeing 702 all electric variant. And perfect for launching on Falcon 9.

Does everything have to come back to Falcon 9. Are launchers are available.

Well said  ;)

More interesting: What from Geostar 3 can be moved into Cygnus?   

Have a feeling some of the Power system upgrades to Cygnus Program might have fed back the Geostar Program.
2017 - Everything Old is New Again.
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant..." --Isoroku Yamamoto

Offline Lurker Steve

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1420
  • Liked: 35
  • Likes Given: 9
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #6 on: 03/11/2014 12:36 pm »

Sounds like a direct competitor to the Boeing 702 all electric variant. And perfect for launching on Falcon 9.

Does everything have to come back to Falcon 9. Are launchers are available.

They list most of the usual suspects (Arianne, Proton, etc). Unfortunately, I didn't see Antares listed.

Offline kevin-rf

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8823
  • Overlooking the path Mary's little Lamb took..
  • Liked: 1318
  • Likes Given: 306
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #7 on: 03/11/2014 01:24 pm »
Might not have the performance needed with the current upper stages from Wallops.
If you're happy and you know it,
It's your med's!

Online Robotbeat

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39271
  • Minnesota
  • Liked: 25240
  • Likes Given: 12115
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #8 on: 03/11/2014 06:02 pm »
Might not have the performance needed with the current upper stages from Wallops.
Indeed. They mention dual-launch, and of the current vehicles, Falcon Heavy seems to be the best fit. R7 and Antares are too small, Ariane 5 is too big (expensive). Ariane 6 would be a good fit, too, but it doesn't exist, yet, and probably could also only single-launch.

Orbital always has the option of using their Antares if Falcon 9 is too heavy, but I've been following the #SATSHOW hashtag on twitter, and there is a /lot/ of lovin' on the Falcon 9 by SES, Eutelsat, etc. It's well-positioned to be a launch provider for the GEOSTAR-3 platform as the only domestic launch vehicle capable of competitively priced launch for the platform (and dual-launch is a design feature of GEOSTAR-3, as mentioned in the press release). Proton is more expensive, isn't domestic, and although it has an impressively long launch history, its reliability is questionable.

So THAT'S why I bring up the Falcon 9. GEOSTAR-3 and the all-electric Boeing 702-SP are perfectly sized forlaunch on Falcon 9 v1.1. I'm merely predicting that some of the earliest GEOSTAR-3 flights will be on Falcon 9. Orbital Sciences is in the enviable position of being able to probably make more profit off of SpaceX's commercial launches than SpaceX will.
« Last Edit: 03/11/2014 06:07 pm by Robotbeat »
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Online Robotbeat

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39271
  • Minnesota
  • Liked: 25240
  • Likes Given: 12115
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #9 on: 03/11/2014 06:16 pm »
What is the mass of GEOSTAR-3 on injection to GTO?
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Offline baldusi

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8356
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Liked: 2539
  • Likes Given: 8273
Re: Orbital Introduces GEOSTAR-3 Satellite Platform
« Reply #10 on: 03/12/2014 12:37 pm »
There's still another possibility. And it's to dual-stack within the new SYLDA 5-K in the Ariane 5ME. The satellite is just 3.0m to 3.9m, tall, and 2.9m x 2.3m wide. So two of those could fit under the SYLDA. It would mean that Ariane 5ME could launch three satellites. Since it's supposed to be able to put 12tonnes on GTO, that could be a 5tonnes + 2 x 3.5tonnes. BTW, it's actually 12.5, but SYLDA eats 0.5tonne.

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0