Quote from: gongora on 06/17/2020 02:29 pmAnyone booking Blue Origin for these would also have a backup contract in case there are delays. The penalties for launching late are far greater than the cost of launch. I really wouldn't be surprised if ULA picks up a launch. SpaceX could probably make a few bucks by serving as backup to everyone else in addition to the contracts they win outright.ULA seems to be pushing pretty hard for dual payload launches, the economics of that should be pretty good. This latest crop of satellites should tell us a lot about which of these new rockets will be the most cost competitive.ULA and Blue Origin's rockets both have a 1.5 tonne lift advantage over Ariane 6 to GTO, which could make the difference between being able to fly dual manifest payloads of any 2 larger sats vs the 1 big/1 medium limitation of Ariane 6.Or we see sat operators choose launch assurance with diverse providers over cost, and no preferential buying.
Anyone booking Blue Origin for these would also have a backup contract in case there are delays. The penalties for launching late are far greater than the cost of launch. I really wouldn't be surprised if ULA picks up a launch. SpaceX could probably make a few bucks by serving as backup to everyone else in addition to the contracts they win outright.
Paris-based Eutelsat told the FCC that it will have to replace one geostationary satellite it previously did not plan to replace as a result of the FCC decision to clear spectrum for U.S. 5G networks.
Eutelsat said it has four satellites serving U.S. customers in C-band, of which Eutelsat-113 West A, requires an “unplanned renewal” because of the C-band auction.
Telesat told the FCC it will not need any replacement satellites, just signal filters so that customers using its Anik-F1R and Anik-F3 satellites can continue service without interference from future 5G cellular signals.
Thales Alenia Space will build SES-22 and SES-23 satellites08/07/2020Cannes, 7 August, 2020 – Thales Alenia Space, a joint-venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announced that it has signed a contract with SES to build SES-22 and SES-23, geostationary communications satellites. These two new satellites are designed to provide digital broadcasting services over North America.Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, production, testing of the satellites and support of the payload in-orbit acceptance tests. SES-22 and SES-23 are based on the proven Spacebus 4000 B2 platform and will be 3.5-ton class satellites at launch.These satellites are the 11th and 12th satellites based on the Spacebus 4000 B2 platform to be built by Thales Alenia Space. The two satellites will help SES meet the Federal Communications Commission’s accelerated C-band clearing deadlines in the United States and will contribute to the effort to clear spectrum necessary to roll out 5G in the United States.Hervé Derrey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space, said “The robustness and flight proven heritage of our Spacebus 4000 B2 platform, combined with our ability to timely and quickly deliver SES-22 and SES-23, have been key elements leading to the decision of SES working with us to replace its existing C-Band fleet. This demonstrates Thales Alenia Space’s expertise in developing tailored solutions that meet each operator’s specific needs to clear the C-Band spectrum.”
https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-to-order-single-replacement-c-band-satellite-for-fcc-spectrum-clearing/QuoteParis-based Eutelsat told the FCC that it will have to replace one geostationary satellite it previously did not plan to replace as a result of the FCC decision to clear spectrum for U.S. 5G networks.QuoteEutelsat said it has four satellites serving U.S. customers in C-band, of which Eutelsat-113 West A, requires an “unplanned renewal” because of the C-band auction.QuoteTelesat told the FCC it will not need any replacement satellites, just signal filters so that customers using its Anik-F1R and Anik-F3 satellites can continue service without interference from future 5G cellular signals. So Eutelsat will only order one replacement satellite and Telesat isn't ordering any replacement sats.
Eutelsat scraps plan for replacement C-band satelliteby Caleb Henry — August 17, 2020Eutelsat revised its plan from two months ago so that it avoids needing a C-band replacement satellite, relying instead on three already in orbit. WASHINGTON — Eutelsat Communications says it no longer intends to buy a reimbursable C-band replacement satellite for the U.S. market, having concluded it can make do with less spectrum by rationalizing capacity on its current geostationary fleet. Paris-based Eutelsat told the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in June that the agency’s decision to auction 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum would limit Eutelsat’s bandwidth supply to the point of needing an additional satellite. However, in a revised “transition plan” filed Aug. 17, Eutelsat said it has enough bandwidth to redistribute affected customers across other satellites. “Eutelsat now expects that prudent management of capacity and demand for C-band satellite services during and after the transition will allow it to provide ‘substantially the same or better service to incumbent earth station operators’ without launching any new C-band satellites,” Eutelsat wrote. The company will move C-band customers, mainly broadcasters, into unused capacity on three satellites — Eutelsat 117 West A, Eutelsat 115 West B and Eutelsat-172B — and will retire Eutelsat 113 West A in 2023 without a replacement. The process shouldn’t require new signal compression equipment, Eutelsat said. ...
