Integral Systems has announced at the 2010 Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) Satellite Conference and Exhibition that it has been selected by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) to provide the primary and backup satellite control systems for the VINASAT-2 satellite.

The satellite is currently being built by LMCSS for the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), and is scheduled for launch by the end of the second quarter 2012.

Under the terms of the contract, Integral Systems will upgrade LMCSS's existing Integral Systems' EPOCH Integrated Product Suite (IPS) in support of the VINASAT-1 and VINASAT-2 satellites. The upgrade will deliver a complete, real-time command and control (C2) system that includes automated scheduling, procedure execution, offline trending and analysis and flight dynamics functions.

Under a separate contract, Integral Systems will also provide its TrueNorth and COMPASS network management and control solutions for the earth station supporting the VINASAT fleet, and these systems will be integrated with the EPOCH IPS system.

"EPOCH is the most widely used satellite command and control solution in the industry. For more than 15 years, satellite operators have relied on its platform-agnostic, cost-effective fleet management capabilities," said James Kramer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Civil and Commercial Group at Integral Systems.

"The inherent flexibility and reliability, low cost to procure, operate, and maintain, and quality of our services and products continue to make Integral Systems and EPOCH the preferred choice of satellite owners and operators worldwide."

VINASAT-2 is based on LMCSS' highly reliable A2100 spacecraft platform. This is the twentieth time EPOCH IPS has been used - or is under contract - to operate an A2100 satellite.

As an all-in-one satellite command and control system that can be operated right from a user's desktop, EPOCH IPS presents a more efficient, economical alternative to costly command and monitoring practices. It currently supports satellite designs from every major commercial geostationary satellite manufacturer.

Among the Integral Systems commercial clients using EPOCH IPS include Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT), SKY Perfect JSAT, AsiaSat, KT Corporation, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), Indovision, SingTel/Optus, Intelsat, SES, Telesat, EchoStar, and Hellas Sat, while government clients include National Space Organization of Taiwan, European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and many others.