Australian Defence Payload Launches on Intelsat 22

Image: Boeing - Intelsat 22

March 26 saw the Intelsat 22 telecommunication satellite launched successfully on a Proton Breeze M rocket from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Intelsat 22 satellite was equipped with a UHF payload that was paid for by the Australian Defence Department, under project JP2008 Phase 5A. Including ground enhancements, the project value is around AUD$145M

The Intelsat 22 is a geostationary satellite that was built by Boeing of California which includes C- and Ku- band payloads for commercial applications, but demonstrates a new model of business for Intelsat by co-hosting international defence payloads. Intelsat is highlighting the on-time, on-budget nature of the deal to demonstrate that this kind of acquisition model can deliver a better outcome for defence departments worldwide.

The Satellite is designed for an 18 year lifetime, and was built on the 702MP platform. An interesting video of the Intelsat 22 spacecraft in integration and test is on Youtube here, with a further video on the UHF payload hosted here.

What I have found surprising - the Australia Defence Force seemed to have put out no media release or statement on the successful launch!

NBNCo has shortlisted its Satellite Operators

The Australian Newspaper within Mitchell Bingemann's article have indicated that the NBNCo has shortlisted Satellite Operators based on an earlier Request for Capability Statement.

It identifies that Optus, Intelsat and Hughes Network Systems are understood to be on the shortlist.  This would also indicate that NBNCo is interested in a 3rd party operating the Satellite network, rather than purchasing the satellites themselves.

More will be known when NBNCo releases the RFT in a few weeks time.

ADF to purchase the remainder of the UHF SatComs Payload

 Image: Boeing - Intelsat 22

Following on from the ADF’s purchase of part of the UHF hosted payload on Intelsat’s satellite Intelsat 22 in April of 2009, the ADF has now exercised its option to purchase the remainder of the communications payload.

The new announcement involves an additional cost of $193 million dollars, taking the total project value under Joint Project 2008 Phase 5A to $475.1 million.

The Minister for Defence Senator Faulkner also announced that Australia and the US have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on sharing UHF communications resources, essentially providing the US with access to the Australian capability, and Australia with access to US UHF comms capacity over the Pacific Ocean.

Intelsat 22 is currently being built by Boeing, and is anticipated to be launched in the first quarter of 2012, and be positioned at 72 degrees East.

Another example of Australian government money being spent in the Space domain, but without long term support to an Australian Space industry, we loose all of our space money, jobs and expertise overseas.