QuoteName Manufacturer Launch Company and Planned Date*I-6 F1** (GX6A) Airbus Defence & Space Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) / 2021I-6 F2** (GX6B) Airbus Defence & Space SpaceX / 2022https://www.inmarsat.com/en/news/latest-news/corporate/2021/inmarsat-marks-five-years-of-global-xpress-worldwide-service-and.html
Name Manufacturer Launch Company and Planned Date*I-6 F1** (GX6A) Airbus Defence & Space Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) / 2021I-6 F2** (GX6B) Airbus Defence & Space SpaceX / 2022
Dec. 24, 2015- Inmarsat-6 satellites dual mission will augment both L-band and Ka-band Global Xpress services - New all-electric satellites order reinforces Airbus Defence and Space’s world leadership in high power electric satellites - Contract valued in the region of $600M (€550M)Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, has been awarded a contract by Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, to design and develop the first two Inmarsat-6 (I-6) mobile communications satellites, creating the most versatile mobile services satellites in its fleet.The two I-6 satellites will be based on Airbus Defence and Space’s ultra-reliable Eurostar platform in its E3000e variant, which exclusively uses electric propulsion for orbit raising. The satellites will take advantage of the reduction in mass that this electric propulsion technology enables for a dual payload mission, with an exceptionally large next generation digitally processed payload.“We are delighted to have been selected by Inmarsat to build their latest and most sophisticated satellites”, said François Auque, Head of Space Systems. “This mission for our next generation digitally processed payload represents a step change in capability and capacity. The spacecraft will complement and enhance the L-band services offered by the Airbus Defence and Space-built Inmarsat-4 and Alphasat satellites, and embark a Ka-band mission to augment Inmarsat’s globally available high-speed broadband service - Global Xpress.”“The Inmarsat-6 constellation confirms our continued commitment to delivering advanced L-band services for decades to come,” said Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat. “The new satellites will provide significantly greater L-band capacity and will be capable of supporting a new generation of more advanced L-band services.”“The Ka-band co-payload adds depth to the breadth of the unique capabilities of our Global Xpress (GX) constellation, which now spans the world.”I-6 F1 and F2 will carry a large 9m aperture L-band antenna and nine multibeam Ka-band antennas, and feature a high level of flexibility and connectivity. A new generation modular digital processor will provide full routing flexibility over up to 8000 channels and dynamic power allocation to over 200 spot beams in L-band. Ka-band spot beams will be steerable over the full Earth disk, with flexible channel to beam allocation.The first satellite (I-6 F1) is scheduled for launch in 2020 and its electric propulsion system will enable it to reach geostationary orbit in four to six months, depending on the type of launcher used. It has been designed to remain in service in orbit for more than 15 years.I-6 F1 is the 50th Eurostar E3000 satellite and the 12th Inmarsat satellite ordered from Airbus Defence and Space. This new contract reinforces Airbus Defence and Space’s position as the world’s number one in electric propulsion satellites, with six full electric high-capacity telecommunications satellites already sold. The investments made by the company in future platform and payload technologies are supported by the European Space Agency and national agencies, in particular the UK Space Agency and CNES.
July 2, 2014...Finally, Inmarsat and SpaceX have agreed terms for a third launch vehicle opportunity that can be used for other future missions, including potentially for the launch of an Inmarsat-6 generation satellite. The Inmarsat-6 satellites have not yet been designed or ordered and a first launch is targeted only towards the end of the decade.
Pearce said Inmarsat could launch Inmarsat-6B on a Falcon Heavy rocket, since the company still has an unused launch option with SpaceX, but hasn’t committed the satellite to that vehicle.
Isn't this supposed to launch on Falcon Heavy?From 2019:QuotePearce said Inmarsat could launch Inmarsat-6B on a Falcon Heavy rocket, since the company still has an unused launch option with SpaceX, but hasn’t committed the satellite to that vehicle.https://spacenews.com/inmarsat-to-place-gx-flex-next-gen-satellite-system-order-this-year/
It solely depends on potential secondary payload slot being sold as reduces cost slightly for primary payload.
Inmarsat confirms today it will fly the I-6 F2 mission on Falcon 9.https://www.inmarsat.com/en/news/latest-news/corporate/2022/spacex-falcon-9-newest-inmarsat-6-f2.htmlQuoteA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the second in the Inmarsat-6 series of satellites, I-6 F2, from Cape Canaveral, Florida in Q1 2023.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the second in the Inmarsat-6 series of satellites, I-6 F2, from Cape Canaveral, Florida in Q1 2023.
I-6 F2 commences thermal vacuum testing07 Apr 2022Inmarsat's latest geostationary satellite, I-6 F2, makes its way towards thermal vacuum testing.large satellite entering a tunnel chamber with two technicians in lab coatsThe satellite is made by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage and Portsmouth in the UK prior to final assembly and testing in Toulouse, France. I-6 F2 will be tested thoroughly for several months. The diameter of the Airbus testing chamber pictured is 10 metres, about as high as a four-storey building, and it is capable of creating temperature extremes from -173 Celsius to 120 Celsius (-279 to 248 Fahrenheit) including rapid cycling and long-duration (30-day) temperature plateaus to simulate the harsh conditions of space.I-6 F2, almost as large as a double-decker bus and with a solar array 'wingspan' larger than a Boeing 767, will be launched in Q1 2023 by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. It follows its 'twin' I-6 F1, which was launched by MHI in Japan in December 2021.The I-6 series of satellites are the most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever and are operated from 36,000km (22,500 miles) above the Earth at Inmarsat’s control centre in London, UK.(Image credit: Inmarsat / Airbus Defence and Space.)
Win a trip of a lifetime to watch Inmarsat’s largest communications satellite launch onboard a SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral in America.Have you ever wondered what it feels like to watch a live rocket launch, hear the incredible roar of the engines and feel the ground shake as it lifts off into space? Well now you have a chance to find out!Inmarsat is excited to team up with the Scouts to run a competition to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cape Canaveral, Florida in America to watch the launch of its double-decker bus-sized communication satellite.The satellite, named I-6 F2, will take flight on a SpaceX rocket early next year, with Scouts’ Ambassador and world-famous astronaut Tim Peake, judging your entries. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning one of two places for this amazing five-day trip in February 2023, is answer the following question:
At 100 sqm when unfurled, the L-band reflector on our #I6F2 🛰️ means business! It will help power twice the capacity and the fastest speeds for our ELERA network. The satellite is being rigorously tested with @AirbusDefence, ahead of launch in 2023: https://www.inmarsat.com/en/about/technology/satellites/i-6.html
A Falcon 9 will launch the Inmarsat 6 F2 satellite from pad 40 on mid-late February.
Ka-band pallet integration is complete on our #I6F2 @AirbusDefence 🛰️. These 6 large reflectors will deliver Global Xpress high-speed broadband services over the Atlantic Ocean, along with 20 steerable spot beams. Look out for launch details coming soon: https://bit.ly/3P9DlPY
Is Inmarsat I-6 F2 correct or is that repeating the Inmarsat ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAS_syndrome )?https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html calls it "Inmarsat 6 F2"
Inmarsat’s latest I-6 F2 satellite will travel from Toulouse, France, to SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral launchpad in January.Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has agreed with Airbus Defence and Space to deliver its I-6 F2 satellite via a series of ‘stepping stones’ across the Atlantic using Airbus’ A300-600ST (Super Transporter). The aircraft is better known as Beluga, thanks to its striking similarity with the species of whale.The journey will see the satellite leave its testing facility in Toulouse and make several stops for refuelling before reaching the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Spacecraft experts will then have approximately three weeks for final testing and integration of spacecraft with the rocket before I-6 F2 launches on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in February.
One of the last tasks at the @AirbusSpace facility in Toulouse is to load #I6F2 🛰️ with over 1,000 kg of Xenon gas, a non-combustible liquid air propellant which will power the satellite’s all-electric propulsion system for orbit raising: https://bit.ly/3GC0k2e
First stage landing should be ASDS, yes?
As #I6F2 gets ready to bid adieu to Toulouse & travel to the Kennedy Space Center in an Airbus Beluga, we’d like to say a huge thank you to all the Inmarsat & @AirbusSpace engineers who have worked tirelessly assembling & testing our complex spacecraft. 🛰️ https://bit.ly/3GYSorZ
Ready for launch! 🚀 The @Airbus #Beluga is flying the Airbus-built @InmarsatGlobal #I6F2 telecoms satellite 🛰️ from Toulouse 🇫🇷 right to its launch pad at Kennedy Space Center 🇺🇸 Stay tuned!
