Saab Space awarded receiver/converter contract from Orbital Sciences Corporation for communications satellite
Saab Space in Gothenburg, Sweden, has received an order for receivers and frequency converters for the Intelsat-16 spacecraft from Orbital, the industry leader for smaller-sized GEO communications satellites.
“This order represents a break-through for us with Orbital Sciences Corporation. We have been talking for years. Now we get an opportunity to show also Orbital in practice why most satellite prime contractors already trust us for receiver and converter deliveries”, says Bengt Sundh, Director of Marketing & Sales for Telecom Satellites at Saab Space. “We like to think that we add value to the customer through our way of completing projects”, says Mr. Sundh.
Orbital completes the picture: Boeing, EADS Astrium, Lockheed Martin, and Space Systems/Loral are already customers of Saab Space. The possibility of delivering similar products to several customers gives economy of scale.
The order placed is for 4 Ku-band receivers and 2 Ku-band frequency converters to be used on-board the Intelsat-16 satellite. Deliveries are to be completed in November 2008. The products are similar to converters already on order for Amazonas 2 and NSS-12 satellites and are of a new, more compact design using MMIC components to shrink size and reduce mass and at the same time make manufacture and trimming smoother. The design also further improves reliability.
Orbital has been very successful in marketing its smaller-sized STARTM communications satellite platform, which offers payload power in the range of 1.5 to 5.5 kW compared to 15-20kW for the industry’s largest spacecraft. To date, 12 satellites based on the STAR platform have been launched and another 10 are in different stages of manufacture.
Intelsat-16 will have a launch mass of 2,450 kg and will be deployed into a 43 degrees West longitude orbit location to provide Ku transponder back-up to DirecTV’s coverage of Brazil, with spot coverage over portions of Mexico, Venezuela and Florida. The satellite is designed for a mission life of 15 years.
Saab Space is an international, independent supplier of space equipment. The company’s main products are computers, microwave electronics and antennas for spacecraft and adapters and separation systems for launchers. The company has its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, a division located in Linköping, Sweden, and subsidiaries in Austria (Austrian Aerospace) and the USA (Saab Space USA LLC). Saab Space has approximately 510 employees. The company is a 100% subsidiary of the Saab Group.
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
For further information please contact:
Lars Nordfeldt, Director of Communications & Public Affairs
Tel: +46 (0)31-735 4312, Cellular: +46 (0)736-68 03 12, Fax: +46 (0)31-735 45 00
http://www.saabgroup.com/en/AboutSaab/Organisation/SaabSpace/bu_portalpage.htm
www.saabgroup.com
Downloads
