Commercial Satellite Built by Maxar Technologies' SSL Successfully Begins On-Orbit Operations, Demonstrating Leadership in New Space Economy

SSL reports that the advanced Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, previously called Hispasat 1F, was launched yesterday and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan, demonstrating Maxar's leadership in the new space economy. The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

It will begin firing its main thruster tomorrow to propel toward its final geostationary orbit. The satellite incorporates technical innovations that will help reduce mass and improve performance, resulting in an enhanced business case for satellite communications.

"The advances on Hispasat 30W-6 represent our strong commitment to providing customers with next-generation spacecraft flexibility, reliability, and value," said Dario Zamarian, group president, SSL. "Thanks to the teams at HISPASAT, SpaceX, and SSL for making this mission a success."

SSL and Hispasat worked together to include key developments on Hispasat 30W-6, which has a primary mission of providing communications services in Europe the Americas and north of Africa. It carries a state-of-the-art photonics receiver, which will prove the value of using the advanced technology for photonic frequency conversion and routing of radio frequency signals within the communications satellite.

The photonics receiver demonstration, provided under technology partnership between SSL and DAS Photonics, replaces traditional microwave components with optical, solid-state components to demonstrate an integrated photonic solution. In the future, this technology will enable enhanced payload performance, greater architecture flexibility, and very high throughput satellite solutions.

"Hispasat 30W-6 is the fourth satellite that SSL has provided to our company, and expands our services offerings and capacity in the covered regions," said Carlos Espinos, chief executive officer at HISPASAT. "SSL continues to deliver reliable satellite solutions with cutting edge advances that improve our business case and help to enable future space systems and missions."

Related Links
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Space Technology News - Applications and Research

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