Intelsat 11 [OSC]
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced in April 2005 that it has signed a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite contract with PanAmSat Corporation. PanAmSat's new spacecraft will provide C- and Ku-band fixed telecommunications and direct-to-home television broadcasting services from a mid-Atlantic orbital location. The new satellite is the fourth one PanAmSat has purchased from Orbital since 2001 and is based on the company's Star-2 platform. PanAmSat previously purchased three C-band satellites for U.S. domestic communications services from Orbital.
The new satellite, to be called PAS-11, will carry up to 18 active Ku-band transponders and 16 active C-band transponders. The satellite will generate approximately 4.5 kilowatts of electrical power and will weigh approximately 2,500 kg at launch. Delivery of the satellite is scheduled in the first quarter of 2007. The contract includes options for two additional spacecraft, each of which would generate approximately 4.7 kilowatts of power and would be delivered about 24 months after exercise of the contract options. Financial details of the contract were not released.
Intelsat changed the name of the satellite to Intelsat 11 (IS 11) effective to 1. February 2007.
Intelsat 11 was booked as the payload on the maiden Land Launch Zenit-3SLB launch, but was rebooked in March 2007 on an Ariane launch vehicle.
In early 2006 PanAmSat ordered long lead items for a back-up satellite for PAS-11, which was called PAS-11R. In May 2007, Intelsat confirmed the contract for the satellite to be completed in 2008. PAS 11R is now named Intelsat 16.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Communication |
Operator: | PanAmSat → Intelsat |
Contractors: | Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) |
Equipment: | 18 Ku-band and 16 C-band transponders |
Configuration: | Star-2 Bus |
Propulsion: | IHI BT-4 |
Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
Lifetime: | 15 years |
Mass: | 2491 kg (launch) |
Orbit: | GEO |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intelsat 11 (IS 11) (ex PAS 11) | 2007-044B | 05.10.2007 | Ko ELA-3 | Ariane-5GS | with Optus D2 |