Eutelsat 115 West B Explained

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Eutelsat 115 West B
Names List:Satmex 7 (2012–2014)
Eutelsat 115 West B (2014–present)
Mission Type:Communications
Operator:Eutelsat
Cospar Id:2015-010B[1]
Satcat:40425
Mission Duration:15 years (planned)
Spacecraft Bus:Boeing 702SP
Manufacturer:Boeing
Launch Mass:4861lbs
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket:Falcon 9 v1.1
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral SLC-40
Launch Contractor:SpaceX
Entered Service:October 15, 2015
Orbit Epoch:19 March 2015, 01:45:59 UTC
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Geostationary
Orbit Periapsis:35793km (22,241miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:35795km (22,242miles)
Orbit Inclination:0.0 degrees
Orbit Period:1436.1 minutes
Orbit Longitude:114.9° West
Apsis:gee
Trans Band:34 Ku band, 12 C band

Eutelsat 115 West B (previously Satmex 7) is a communications satellite that is operated by Eutelsat, providing video, data, government, and mobile services for the Americas. The satellite was designed and manufactured by Boeing Space Systems, and is a Boeing 702SP model communication satellite. It is located at 115 degrees west longitude. It was launched on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 2 March 2015 (UTC time).

The satellite is solely propelled by electrically powered spacecraft propulsion, with the onboard thrusters used for both geostationary orbit insertion and station keeping.

The satellite had a launch mass of 4861lbs.[2] It is notable for being the first[3] commercial communications satellite in orbit to use electric propulsion, providing a significant weight savings. Eutelsat 115 West B was launched with another Boeing 702SP satellite, ABS-3A, on the same rocket.

Eutelsat 115 West B is planned to be the first in a family of four satellites in the Eutelsat constellation. The satellite was scheduled for entry into service in November 2015, but entered service a month earlier than expected, in October 2015.[4] [5]

Launch

The launch occurred on March 2, 2015, at 03:50 UTC and the satellite has been deployed in the planned supersynchronous transfer orbit.[6] [7]

The launch is also notable for being the first flight of Boeing's stacked satellite configuration for the Boeing 702SP,[8] a configuration Boeing designed specifically to take advantage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 capabilities.[9]

On-orbit operations

The sister-satellite 702SP from the same launch—ABS-3A—became fully operational as a geosynchronous communications satellite by 10 September 2015 after a handover from Boeing to ABS for on-orbit operations on 31 August 2015, approximately one month earlier than planned.[10] A press release on 15 October 2015 stated that Eutelsat 115 West B has started providing service.[11]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EUTE 115 WEST B (SATMEX 7 Satellite details 2015-010B NORAD 40425. N2YO. 6 June 2016. 6 June 2016.
  2. Web site: Bergin. Chris. Legless Falcon 9 Conducts Static Fire Ahead of Sunday Launch. NASASpaceFlight. 26 February 2015. 25 February 2015.
  3. Web site: Clark. Stephen. Boeing's first two all-electric satellites ready for launch. Spaceflight Now. 1 March 2015. 2 March 2015.
  4. Web site: Innovative satellites begin maneuvers with all-electric thrusters – Spaceflight Now .
  5. Web site: EUTELSAT 115 West B arrives in geostationary orbit. Eutelsat. 28 September 2015. 23 April 2016. 8 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160508182052/http://news.eutelsat.com/pressreleases/eutelsat-115-west-b-arrives-in-geostationary-orbit-1224568. dead.
  6. Web site: EUTELSAT 115 West B launched successfully into space. Eutelsat. 2 March 2015. 3 March 2015. 4 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150304152859/http://news.eutelsat.com/pressreleases/eutelsat-115-west-b-launched-successfully-into-space-1123649. dead.
  7. Web site: Graham. William. SpaceX Falcon 9 launches debut dual satellite mission. NASASpaceFlight. 3 March 2015. 1 March 2015.
  8. Web site: Climer. John. Boeing: Stacked Satellites Tested for the Rigors of Space. Boeing. 26 February 2015.
  9. News: Svitak . Amy . SpaceX Says Falcon 9 To Compete For EELV This Year . 2015-02-28 . Aviation Week . 10 March 2014 . But the Falcon 9 is not just changing the way launch-vehicle providers do business; its reach has gone further, prompting satellite makers and commercial fleet operators to retool business plans in response to the low-cost rocket. In March 2012, Boeing announced the start of a new line of all-electric telecommunications spacecraft, the 702SP, which are designed to launch in pairs on a Falcon 9 v1.1. Anchor customers Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) of Hong Kong and Mexico's SatMex plan to loft the first two of four such spacecraft on a Falcon 9 in December in a launch window that opens this year, though SatMex owner Eutelsat said last month that the launch has moved to early 2015. Using electric rather than chemical propulsion will mean the satellites take months, rather than weeks, to reach their final orbital destination. But because all-electric spacecraft are about 40% lighter than their conventional counterparts, the cost to launch them is considerably less than that for a chemically propelled satellite. . 2014-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140310123118/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2FAW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml . dead .
  10. http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2015-09-10-Boeing-World-s-First-All-Electric-Propulsion-Satellite-Begins-Operations Boeing: World’s First All-Electric Propulsion Satellite Begins Operations
  11. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151015005592/en/EUTELSAT-115-West-Live EUTELSAT 115 West B Goes Live: Eutelsat Americas achieves full continental footprint with coverage from Alaska to Patagonia

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