Inmarsat-4 (I-4) [Astrium]
Inmarsat-4 is the fourth generation of satellites for the London-based global mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat.
Designed to be around 100 times more powerful than the present generation and to provide a ten-fold increase in communications capacity, the satellites will support the new Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN), to be introduced in 2004 for internet and intranet solutions, video on demand, video-conferencing, fax, e-mail, telephone and high-speed LAN access. Two of the satellites were launched in 2005 while the third remained on the ground as a spare until 2008, when it also was launched.
As prime contractor, Astrium delivered both the platform (based on the high-power Eurostar-3000GM version of Astrium's Eurostar series) and the payload, including the on-board processor.
In addition On Inmarsat-4 F3, a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) navigation package operating in C-band for uplink and L-band for downlink provides precision Global Positioning System-based guidance information to aircraft at thousands of airports and landing strips that lack such a capability today.
Nation: | International |
---|---|
Type / Application: | Communication |
Operator: | Inmarsat |
Contractors: | Astrium |
Equipment: | L-band payload (all); WAAS payload (#F3) |
Configuration: | Eurostar-3000GM |
Propulsion: | ? |
Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
Lifetime: | 13 years |
Mass: | 5959 kg (#1); 5958 kg (#2); 5960 kg (#3) |
Orbit: | GEO |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inmarsat-4 F1 (Inmarsat I-4 F1) | 2005-009A | 11.03.2005 | CC SLC-41 | Atlas-5(431)¹ | ||
Inmarsat-4 F2 (Inmarsat I-4 F2) | 2005-044A | 08.11.2005 | SL | Zenit-3SL (2) | ||
Inmarsat-4 F3 (Inmarsat I-4 F3) | 2008-039A | 18.08.2008 | Ba LC-200/39 | Proton-M Briz-M (Ph.2 mod) |