SSL, a business unit of Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR), announced that the LEO communications satellite the company recently provided to Telesat has arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Eastern Russia where it will launch aboard a Soyuz-2 vehicle provided by Glavkosmos. This will be one of two Telesat Phase 1 satellites planned for launch this year that will allow Telesat to start testing key performance parameters of their next generation global LEO constellation.
The launch of this Phase 1 LEO will be a key step in Telesat’s goal to accelerate the world’s digital transformation by providing, through its LEO constellation, high performing, cost effective, fiber-like connectivity anywhere on the planet for business, government and individual users.
SSL smallsat for Telesat is now at launch base.
Photo is courtesy of SSL.
SSL has worked with Telesat for nearly 20 years to expand its satellite fleet and there are currently two Telesat geostationary satellites in production at SSL’s Palo Alto facility, where the company integrates space proven building blocks with technology advances that enable better performance and more power and capacity for broadcast and broadband applications.
Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO smallsat is expected to launch in late November from Eastern Russia’s newest launch base, together with a Russian weather observation satellite and several other co-passengers. SSL partnered with the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) of Toronto, Canada to build the spacecraft and SFL is managing launch base mission operations.
SSL’s growing LEO business includes satellites for Earth Observation, communications and satellite servicing and demonstrates the company’s agility in implementing new technologies and processes to drive innovation.
Dario Zamarian, the group president of SSL, stated that developing this innovative LEO spacecraft for Telesat demonstrates SSL's strength in collaborating with partners to meet new space goals. With this satellite for Telesat, the company has taken an entirely fresh approach to designing a high performing smallsat that will advance Telesat’s plans to launch an important next-generation business.
Dave Wendling, Chief Technical Officer of Telesat, added that Telesat’s LEO constellation will deliver fiber-like broadband on a global basis to commercial and government markets, and the launch of our Phase 1 LEO satellites is the starting point in making this next generation system a reality. The company looks forward to a successful launch and the start of testing on our Phase 1 LEO satellites shortly thereafter.
