[SatNews] AsiaSat 6, the newest communications satellite of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), successfully lifted off on September 7th at Hong Kong Time 1:00 p.m. (1:00 a.m. EDT or Cape Canaveral local time).
This is the second SpaceX Falcon 9 launch this summer for AsiaSat, following AsiaSat 8 on August 5th. Approximately 32 minutes after liftoff, the AsiaSat 6 spacecraft successfully separated from the launch vehicle. AsiaSat acquired the first signals from the satellite in Hong Kong 55 minutes after launch.
Over the next few days, AsiaSat 6 will move to its operational position, some 36,000 km above the equator where it will undergo in-orbit testing before being brought into commercial use.
Artistic rendition of the AsiaSat 6 satellite, courtesy of SSL.
“This year marks a major milestone for AsiaSat. The addition of AsiaSat 6 to AsiaSat’s expanding fleet of five in-orbit satellites including the new AsiaSat 8 significantly enhances our capability to offer a wider range of transponder capacity to our clients,” said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat. “We thank the SpaceX, Space Systems/Loral and the AsiaSat team for their dedication and professionalism in achieving this successful launch. We look forward to offering more quality satellite services on AsiaSat 6 to serve the fast growing demand in the Asia-Pacific region.”
AsiaSat 6, based on Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform, is designed to provide excellent power and region-wide connectivity at its nominal orbital location of 120 degrees East. With 28 high-powered C-band transponders and a design life of 15 years, AsiaSat 6 offers two beams, one global beam and one regional beam for a broad range of video distribution and broadband network services in the Asia-Pacifi
AsiaSat 6, based on Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform, is designed to provide excellent power and region-wide connectivity at its nominal orbital location of 120 degrees East. With 28 high-powered C-band transponders and a design life of 15 years, AsiaSat 6 offers two beams, one global beam and one regional beam for a broad range of video distribution and broadband network services in the Asia-Pacific region.
The addition of AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8, the latter launched by a Falcon 9 on August 5, grows the company's fleet to six spacecraft.
Thaicom will operate half of the newest satellite's 28-transponder capacity under the name Thaicom 7.
SpaceX launched Thaicom 6 in January, and since has completed three more commercial satellite missions and one for NASA delivering cargo to the International Space Station.
The AsiaSat infosite is located at https://www.asiasat.com/
The SpaceX infosite is located at https://www.spacex.com/
The Space Systems Loral (SSL) infosite is accessible via https://www.sslmda.com/
Statement From SSL
Space Systems/Loral (SSL) today announced that the AsiaSat 6 satellite, designed and built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), was launched Saturday evening and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle provided by SpaceX. The satellite began firing its main thruster last night in order to start maneuvering into geostationary orbit.
“This is the second SSL-built satellite launched within two months for AsiaSat,” said John Celli, President of SSL. “I would like to thank everyone at launch base and the teams that saw AsiaSat 6 through from design to launch for their hard work and commitment to put it into orbit.”
AsiaSat 6 is designed to provide broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband services across the Asia-Pacific region where it will help meet the fast growing demand for quality satellite services.
“SSL has been an excellent partner in our recent fleet expansion,” said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat. “Congratulations to everyone at SSL, SpaceX and AsiaSat who helped make this launch a success.”
AsiaSat 6 has 28 C-band transponders and will be positioned at 120 degrees East longitude. It has two beams, one which is global and one which is regional, offering coverage over Asia, Australasia, Central Asia, and the Pacific islands, with enhanced power and look angles over Pacific Rim countries. It is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances.
SSL has now provided four satellites to AsiaSat and has an additional satellite, AsiaSat 9, currently under construction in its Palo Alto manufacturing facility. With this launch, there are 76 SSL-built GEO satellites currently on orbit.
Statement From Thaicom
Thaicom Public Company Limited’s THAICOM-7 satellite was successfully launched into orbit at 01:00 local time (05:00 UTC) today by a Falcon 9 rocket of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SPACE X) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. THAICOM-7 will expand the company’s broadcasting service platform from its orbital position at 120 degrees East and will provide a full range of media and data services tailored to the communication needs of the entertainment industry and telecom operators across Asia and Australasia.
Mrs. Suphajee Suthumpun, Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO, Thaicom PLC, said: “The launch of THAICOM-7 is a great success. I would like to thank our partners and team for a job well done. Our new bird will help fulfill the increasing demand in satellite capacity in Thailand and in the Asia Pacific region. THAICOM-7 will help strengthen the company’s servicing capacity, as well as allow it to expand into new markets overseas.”
THAICOM-7 is the cooperation project between Thaicom and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co., Ltd, built by Space Systems/Loral, U.S.A. The satellite’s wide area beam coverage will allow clients to cross-connect to other regions.
“Satellites THAICOM-5 and THAICOM-6 which serve Thailand are now at full capacity; the launch of THAICOM-7 will provide additional satellite capacity to serve Thailand’s fast growing broadcasting industry,” added Mrs. Suphajee. “Thaicom is committed to developing and delivering premium satellite services and innovative solutions on an end-to-end basis.”
Transponder capacity on THAICOM-7 has been fully booked at the time of launch, made up of approximately 50 percent pre-launch sales, with the remainder in the final contract stages. Thaicom's infosite is located here.
