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O3b 1, ..., 12

O3b [Thales Alenia]

The O3b 1 - 12 satellites of Jersey, Channel Islands based O3b Networks Limited offer low latency Internet backhaul to emerging markets and developing countries worldwide at speeds up to 10 Gbps with a combined total capacity in excess of 160 Gbps. Thales Alenia Space started design activities under contract in 2007 and has received Authorization To Proceed (ATP) with the construction phase of the project. The delivery of the initial satellites and service activation are scheduled for late 2010.

O3b Networks recently announced the new satellite network with support and funding from Google, Inc, Liberty Global, Inc., and HSBC Principal Investments. Bridging the gap between current satellites and fiber optic cables, O3b Networks will provide fiber-like trunking capacity to telecom operators and backhaul directly to 3G Cellular and WiMAX towers.

The space vehicle is designed, integrated and tested, by Thales Alenia Space. Leveraging the heritage redundant service module design and manufactured utilizing an innovative island production approach. The unique payload system design enables flexibility of antenna usage and graceful degradation. The first eight space vehicles were planned be in orbit by 4th quarter, 2010, but were delayed to 2013.

The Ka-Band payload is designed to enable the high speed flow of data between locations on the ground. Twelve fully steerable antennas ensure an optimized connection to the area where data is needed. The payload portion uses existing Ka-Band repeater technology to allow for straightforward allocation of the bandwidth anywhere within the 500 km diameter area on the ground which is illuminated.

The flexible configuration of the satellite allows for inter-antenna data transfer in a variety of ways. Thus, trunking between two points is simple, or trunking between many points is also possible. The steerable antennas can be moved onto a location in minutes and each provide up to 1.25 Gbps of throughput.

The service module provides platform three axis pointing stabilization. The 3-axis control is provided by a combination reaction wheels, torque rods and reaction engine assemblies. Attitude determination is provided by earth and fine sun sensors in conjunction with an inertial measurement unit. A GPS Navigation Unit provides orbit position. Power is supplied by two gallium arsenide solar arrays and a Li-Ion battery.

Thales Alenia Space announced in September 2008 it has started construction of eight of its Medium Earth Orbit communications satellites with options for additional spacecraft. In November 2011, a third batch of four more satellites was ordered to be launched in 2014.

The satellites were originally to be launched on Zenit-3SL (2) boosters, but changed in 2009 to Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT boosters.

The first launch in June 2013 orbited four satellites. Two of the satellites of this launch suffered some low-voltage events in their power supply, leading to a delay of the second launch into 2014. The second launch was conducted in July 2014 and the third followed in December 2014, bringing the constellation up to 12 satellites.

O3b Neworks plans to order higher performance improved O3b spacecrafts in early 2015. Eight of these were ordered in December 2015, which are about to be launched from 2018 onwards.

Nation: UK (Channel Islands)
Type / Application: Communication
Operator: O3b Neworks Ltd.
Contractors: Thales Alenia Space
Equipment: 12 Ka-Band transponders
Configuration: ELiTeBus-1000
Propulsion: Hydrazine monopropellant, 8 × 1 N thrusters
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 10 years
Mass: ~700 kg
Orbit: 7825 km, 0°
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
O3b FM1 2013-031D 25.06.2013 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM2, FM4, FM5
O3b FM2 2013-031C 25.06.2013 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b PFM, FM4, FM5
O3b FM3 2014-038D 10.07.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM6, FM7, FM8
O3b FM4 2013-031B 25.06.2013 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b PFM, FM2, FM5
O3b FM5 2013-031A 25.06.2013 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b PFM, FM2, FM4
O3b FM6 2014-038B 10.07.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM3, FM7, FM8
O3b FM7 2014-038C 10.07.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM3, FM6, FM8
O3b FM8 2014-038A 10.07.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM3, FM6, FM7
O3b FM9 2014-083A 18.12.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM10, FM11, FM12
O3b FM10 2014-083B 18.12.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM9, FM11, FM12
O3b FM11 2014-083C 18.12.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM9, FM10, FM12
O3b FM12 2014-083D 18.12.2014 Ko ELS Soyuz-ST-B Fregat-MT with O3b FM9, FM10, FM11
Further O3b missions:

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