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Post Info TOPIC: Inmarsat-4 satellite
Blobrana


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One of the largest and most powerful commercial satellites in the world is set to blast off on tuesday November 8th.
Lift-off is scheduled at the opening of a 29-minute launch window at 6:07 am Pacific Time, 14:07 GMT.

The UK-built Inmarsat-4 F2 is the second of three satellites designed to improve global communications systems.

It will be lifted into orbit by a Zenit-3SL rocket from a sea platform close to the equator.

The first satellite, which covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Indian Ocean, was launched from Cape Canaveral in March.

The second satellite will improve and extend communications across South America, most of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean.

Inmarsat-4 F2 will lift off from a floating launchpad close to Christmas Island on the equator.

"It will be quite spectacular. In the Pacific Ocean, it will be night time. It will be a very impressive fireworks display but hopefully without the explosions" - Michael Butler, Inmarsat chief operating officer .

The sea launch was originally scheduled for Saturday but was delayed 48 hours to allow controllers to investigate technical issues.

The two satellites will support the London-based sat-com company's global broadband network - BGan.

Their onboard technology is designed to allow people to set up virtual offices anywhere around the world via high-speed broadband connections and new 3G phone technology.

The satellites will offer broadband services. Those set to benefit include business travellers, disaster relief workers and journalists.

The two six-tonne spacecraft, each the size of a London bus, should continue functioning for about 15 years. They were largely built at the EADS Astrium facilities in Stevenage and Portsmouth, UK.

T = 0:00:00 Liftoff
T+ 0:02:30 Stage 1 Separation
T+ 0:03:51 Payload Fairing Jettison
T+ 0:08:31 Stage 2 Separation
T+ 0:08:41 Block DM 1st Burn Ignition
T+ 1:08:20 Block DM 2nd Burn Ignition
T+ 1:25:11 Spacecraft Separation
T+ 1:50:00 Spacecraft Acquisition (estimated time)

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Blobrana


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The November 5th launch of the Inmarsat 4-F2 mobile communications satellite by Sea Launch was halted by a technical problem.
Lift-off was targeted for 14:19 GMT from the floating platform positioned in the equatorial Pacific Ocean (154° West, 0° North).
The next launch attempt is on Monday.
The Zenit 3SL rocket will launch the Inmarsat 4-F2 mobile communications satellite to serve the Americas. This is the second of the Inmarsat 4-series of spacecraft built by Astrium.

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Blobrana


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Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, today confirmed the successful transition of services to the new Inmarsat-4 satellite covering the Indian Ocean Region.

The I-4 satellite, which was launched on 11 March 2005, is now supporting all the digital communications traffic that was previously carried on its predecessor, the Inmarsat-3 satellite, in that region.

The transition took place at 2000hrs GMT on 28 May 2005, and was managed by a team of 50 engineers and spectrum management specialists from Inmarsat, as well as 19 land earth stations. The services were moved in one series of activities, with safety services transitioned and restored first. All services were successfully transitioned within 45 minutes.

“The transition was as smooth and successful as we could have hoped. The last time we transitioned services between satellites was during the Inmarsat-2 to Inmarsat-3 move in the late 90s, so we prepared extensively for this transition. This was one of the most important stages in the entire life of this satellite, and its success is a testament to the expertise of Richard Denny and his teams in the satellite control and network operations centres.
With our existing services now running perfectly on the Inmarsat-4 satellite, the stage is set for our introduction of BGAN later this year“- Michael Butler, Chief Operating Officer of Inmarsat.

The Inmarsat-4 satellite was built by EADS Astrium, and is one of the largest and most sophisticated commercial communication satellites ever launched.
Following its launch on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the satellite went through several weeks of complex manoeuvres and tests; including round-the-clock testing of the communications payload, propulsion, attitude control, and electrical, thermal and command systems.

All tests were completed successfully, and the satellite was moved to its operational geostationary position at 64 East, over the Indian Ocean, two days before the transition.


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