Page 59 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

One Satellite Services Another in Orbit for the First Time

The Intelsat 901 has returned to service its communications antenna and solar other satellites by not only dealing with
less than two months after its historic arrays in the right direction. The result of navigation but also providing inspections
docking with Northrop Grumman's first this is that many satellites that are still and maintenance. A second MEV, MEV-2,
Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1). perfectly good in all other respects have to is scheduled to rendezvous with Intelsat
Intelsat announced that the 19-year-old be sent into a disposal orbit and shutdown. 1002 later this year. "Our partnership
communications satellite is now operating This would have been the case with with Intelsat was critical to delivering
in its new orbit after MEV-1 took over Intelsat 901 after 19 years of relaying data this innovative satellite technology
attitude and orbital maintenance in March. transmissions, but MEV has provided the into operation," says Tom Wilson, vice
When the MEV-1 docked with Intelsat 901 satellite with a reprieve. In February, MEV- president, Northrop Grumman Space
on February 25 it marked the opening of a 1 used a drogue mechanism to lock onto Systems and president, SpaceLogistics,
new field of space services. Not only was the satellite and pull itself in to dock over LLC. "This historic event, highlighted by the
it the first time two commercial spacecraft Intel 901's now-inoperative main thruster. first in-orbit rendezvous and docking of two
docked in geostationary orbit, but it was After system checks and various tests, commercial satellites and the subsequent
also introduced a new way of looking at MEV-1 took over the navigation chores repositioning of the two-spacecraft stack,
the active lifespan of orbital satellites. for the new spacecraft stack, shifting its demonstrates the business value that MEV
Currently, satellites have depressingly orbit by 1.6 degrees and moving it into a offers to customers. Now that MEV-1 has
short and expensive service lives. In most new position. Intelsat then transferred 30 successfully delivered on its mission to
cases, this isn't due to the spacecraft commercial and government customers place the Intelsat 901 satellite back into
experiencing a general breakdown of to the reactivated satellite on April 9. It operational service, we will continue to
systems but rather the failure of one key will remain attached to Intel 901 for five pioneer the future of on-orbit servicing
component. Usually, this component is years before sending the communications through our multi-year technology
the craft running out of the propellants satellite into its final disposal orbit. MEV- roadmap leading to additional services
needed to keep it on station and pointing 1 will then be available for servicing such as inspection, assembly, and repair."

Inmarsat Supports Aid and NGO Sector During COVID-19 Crisis

Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile the 30MB monthly allowance, delivering days at the same cost as the ‘GSPS 00050’
satellite communications, has announced significant cost savings for the typical voucher that has a 30 day validity period.
that it will provide further enhanced support user. To support Isatphone 2 pre-paid Additionally for the Isatphone 2 GSPS
to the vital aid and NGO sector during the users, Inmarsat will introduce a ‘GSPS Standard plan, a 50% discount on calls
COVID-19 pandemic. These new initiatives 00075 Emergency’ voucher including 50% over the monthly limit will be applied.
will enable enhanced offerings across both more airtime allowance and a validity of 90
platforms and come as a direct response
to the additional challenges caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring emergency
responders can continue delivering critical
aid and relief. Inmarsat’s Broadband Global
Area Network (BGAN) and Isatphone 2
services are crucial connectivity tools
for land-based organizations, especially
for aid agencies and NGOs. The new
initiatives include enabling Inmarsat’s
BGAN Link plan for usage globally. This
means that the normally static, geo-
specific service can offer organizations
the capability to operate cost-effectively
and without complexity within a wider
geographic range as they carry out their
vital operations. Inmarsat will also offer
its BGAN Pro Plan, with a new discount
of 50% on the cost of any data used over

59 APRIL 2020