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China Successfully Launches Its Heaviest Communications Satellite

China has launched its heaviest and based on cryogenic loop heat pipes, frequencies are used mainly for satellite
most advanced communications satellite an efficient thermal control device for communications. “The major way to
on the country’s largest new carrier space applications, to lay the foundation improve the satellite communication
rocket Long March-5 that will lay the for the development of highly sensitive capacity is to expand the bandwidth of
foundation for the development of highly space probes. The satellite will test the the available frequency bands. If we liken
sensitive space probes. Aboard the third controllable deformation of shape memory the geostationary orbit to an expressway,
Long March-5 rocket, Shijian-20, a new polymers, a type of smart material that which is now the most crowded in space,
technology test and verification satellite, can switch between temporary shapes, to the use of Q/V bands will help to widen the
successfully entered its orbit Friday night, pave the way for the development of large expressway by four to five times,” said Li
state-run Xinhua news agency reported. variable space structures. It will also carry Feng, chief designer of the satellite with the
Launched from the Wenchang Space out satellite-ground communication tests CAST. The test is key to the development
Launch Centre in south China’s Hainan using Q/V bands, which lie between 33-75 of the next generation of high throughput
Province, Shijian-20, weighing more than GHz, within the extremely high frequency satellites capable of delivering 1Tbps
eight tones, is the country’s heaviest and (EHF) area of the radio spectrum. These bandwidth for ultrafast speeds, he said.
most advanced communications satellite
in geosynchronous orbit, according to
its maker, the China Academy of Space
Technology (CAST) under the China
Aerospace Science and Technology
Corporation (CASC). The Long March-5,
China’s most powerful rocket and a critical
ingredient in the nation’s ambitious space
program, can carry a maximum payload of
25 tones into low Earth orbit and 14 tones
into geosynchronous orbit. The successful
launch is a major step forward for its
planned mission to Mars in 2020. The
satellite will carry out orbit experiments
for a series of key technologies, the CAST
said in a press release. It will demonstrate
in orbit its heat transfer technology

Inmarsat’s GX5 Satellite to Offer Broadband Coverage over Middle East,

Europe

Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, Senior Vice 26 and is slated to join the fleet early next to learn from peer business executives
President of Government Strategy and year. “GX5, adding to that mix, looks at and government thought leaders while
Policy at Inmarsat, said the company an area where we’ve got increased and providing an interactive forum to develop
added a satellite to the Global Xpress significant demand,” Cowen-Hirsch was key business and partnering relationships.
constellation to address a demand for quoted as saying. “It is a very, very dense Executive Mosaic offers highly coveted
commercial broadband services in the environment for commercial as well as executive events, breaking business news
Middle East and Europe. Cowen-Hirsch military. So we’ve got a satellite that was on the Government Contracting industry,
noted that military organizations seek specifically put to cover that particular and delivers robust and reliable content
commercial Ka-band satellite connectivity region.” About Executive Mosaic: Founded through seven influential websites and
that works to complement the Wideband in 2002, Executive Mosaic is a leadership four consequential E-newswires. Executive
Global SATCOM system. The Global organization and media company. It Mosaic is headquartered in Tysons Corner,
Xpress 5 satellite was launched on Nov. provides its members an opportunity VA.

69 JANUARY 2020