…successfully completed pre-ship review at the company’s Space Systems headquarters in Louisville, Colorado. The satellite was shipped to the Cape Canaveral, Florida, launch site, where it is scheduled to be integrated as a secondary payload on the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle as part of the first Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station.
The satellite’s deployment, after the Dragon capsule is released, will define it as the first secondary commercial payload launch on a CRS mission, fulfilling the potential of government and commercial missions to coexist in a single launch. The prototype satellite, currently scheduled to launch on October 7, 2012, is based on SNC‘s SN-100 satellite bus, with capacity to launch highly capable optical, RF and science payloads. The SN-100 is specifically designed to be rapidly produced on SNC’s fleet satellite production line.
This spacecraft is the first of an 18 satellite constellation being designed, built and managed at SNC’s Louisville, Colorado, facility. SNC successfully directed the development and integration of the complex communications payload, and assisted in the key roles of launch planning and mission operations. In preparation for launch, SNC has installed a state-of-the-art satellite operations center. The Louisville Satellite Operations Center will support essential communications with the satellite prior to launch and during early on-orbit checkout and operations.
