[Epoch Times December 23, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Chen Ting comprehensive report) British satellite communications service giant Inmarsat and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the company’s largest ever The most complex communications satellite.
The communications satellite is named “Inmarsat-6 F1” and will provide services to many mobile customers, including ships, aircraft, armed forces, and broadcasting companies. Inmarsat said that with the assistance of the satellite, communications services can undergo major updates.
The Inmarsat-6 F1 satellite (or I6 F1 for short) weighed about 5,470 kilograms at launch and was the first of two new mobile communications satellites purchased by Inmarsat from Airbus.
According to the US space flight website “SpaceFlightNow” (link), the I6 F2 is still under construction and is expected to be launched next year with SpaceX rockets from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
At 0:32 a.m. local time, the satellite successfully lifted off with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H2A rocket No. 45, and after about 26 minutes, it reached a position about 36,000 kilometers above the equator and put it into a predetermined orbit.
The report said that in the next few months, the satellite will use electric thrusters to enter a circular orbit and eventually stay above the Indian Ocean. This will enable the communication function of I6 F1 to effectively cover the markets of Asia, Africa and Australia.
I6 F1 carries dual Ka-band and L-band. There are 20 steerable Ka-band beams to provide broadband network services for aircraft passengers and ships, and an umbrella-shaped L-band reflector with a diameter of 30 feet that can be deployed in space.
L-band refers to the radio wave band with a frequency of 1-2 GHz, which is often used for maritime search and rescue, ship and asset tracking, and supply chain management.
With the increasing demand for “Internet of Things” applications, various remote assets, from shipping containers to bulldozers, need to regularly report their operating status to the base, which has also pushed up the demand for L-band communications.
Inmarsat Chief Technology Officer Peter Hadinger told the BBC: “With I6 F1, we will get nearly four times the capacity, which can be invested in hot spots around the world.” (link)
“The spacecraft aims to ensure the continuity of our L-band satellite constellation until 2040,” he said. “Our customers buy L-band because it is a very reliable service, and they expect this service to be available. long-term use.”
Hardinger added: “The requirements for wider bandwidth are shifting to the higher frequency Ka band, and the I6 platform will also carry transponders for this frequency.”
According to Kyodo News (link), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H2A rocket has been successfully launched 39 consecutive times since 2005. Considering that I6 F1 is one of the largest commercial communications satellites in the world, this launch increases the number of solid rocket boosters to four, which improves performance.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries stated that this is H2A’s fifth overseas launch order. In addition to the United Kingdom, it has also received orders from South Korea, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Mitsubishi said it will cooperate with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) this year to launch the H3 rocket No. 1 as a successor to H2A.
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei#
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