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| Intelsat 20 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Intelsat 20 |
| Mission type | Communications satellite |
| Operator | Intelsat |
| Launch date | 2012-08-06 |
| Launch vehicle | Proton-M / Breeze-M |
| Launch site | Baikonur Cosmodrome |
| Spacecraft bus | SSL 1300 |
| Manufacturer | Space Systems/Loral |
| Mass | 6500 kg (launch mass) |
| Orbit | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 68.5° East (nominal) |
Intelsat 20
Intelsat 20 is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Intelsat, built by Space Systems/Loral on the SSL 1300 platform and launched in 2012. The satellite was placed to serve customers across Asia, Africa, and Europe with C-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band payloads, supporting broadcasters, teleports, and government users. Intelsat 20 augmented a fleet that includes satellites such as Intelsat 19 and Intelsat 21 and integrated into terrestrial infrastructure operated by companies like Eutelsat, SES S.A., and Telesat for regional connectivity.
Intelsat 20 was procured by Intelsat from Space Systems/Loral, a contractor with a heritage connected to programs like GOES-R and manufacture for operators including DirecTV and SKY Perfect JSAT. The mission followed prior Intelsat deployments including spacecraft that occupied geostationary slots near 68.5° East, a location historically used by operators such as ISRO's collaborations and by payloads supporting services to Indian Space Research Organisation partners. The project involved international industrial partners and suppliers with supply chains linked to companies including Thales Alenia Space, Honeywell International Inc., and Raytheon Technologies.
Built on the SSL 1300 bus, Intelsat 20 employed a three-axis stabilized platform similar to models used by Inmarsat and Eutelsat satellites. The spacecraft carried a multi-band payload: eighteen C-band transponders, thirty-two Ku-band transponders, and a Ka-band payload designed for high-throughput links. The payload architecture mirrored design practices used in systems by Hughes Network Systems and Viasat to provide spot-beam and widebeam services. Onboard subsystems included avionics, power systems with solar arrays and batteries, attitude control using reaction wheels and star trackers comparable to those on X-37B's guidance units, and thermal control derived from heritage programs like Landsat and Terra. Ground-proven amplifiers and modulators from suppliers such as L3Harris Technologies supported the transponder chains.
The satellite launched on 6 August 2012 aboard a Proton-M rocket with a Breeze-M upper stage from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch profile placed the vehicle into a geostationary transfer orbit, after which onboard propulsion completed circularization to an operational geostationary orbit at 68.5° East longitude. This launch vehicle and site have supported missions for agencies such as Roscosmos and large commercial programs including launches for EUTELSAT and SES Astra. Orbit raising maneuvers used chemical propulsion technology comparable to engines on other SSL 1300 derivatives.
Intelsat 20 entered service providing video distribution, direct-to-home broadcasting, enterprise data, and mobility connectivity. Operational control was exercised by Intelsat’s network operations centers, facilities akin to teleports run by SES, Eutelsat, and major broadcasters such as BBC and CNN. The satellite served commercial customers including regional broadcasters, telecom carriers, and corporate networks, interoperating with ground installers from companies like Harris Corporation and broadcast integrators tied to NHK and multinational media groups. Service provisioning used standard DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X modulations used by operators including Astra and Sky UK for efficient spectrum utilization.
Coverage footprints were designed to cover South Asia, Southeast Asia, large swaths of Africa, and parts of Europe. The Ku-band beams supported direct-to-home services analogous to offerings from Dish Network and DirecTV, while C-band capacity enabled distribution resistant to heavy rain fade, a trait sought by broadcasters in tropical regions and used by services similar to those provided by Eutelsat 16A and Intelsat 15. Ka-band capacity provided higher throughput links for enterprise backhaul and maritime connectivity used by shipping operators and airlines comparable to customers of Inmarsat's Ka services.
Operational management was performed by Intelsat staff at regional Network Operations Centers, with telemetry, tracking, and control functions coordinated alongside ground infrastructure vendors including SES S.A.-style teleports and commercial earth station networks operated by companies like Tata Communications and Bharti Airtel. Regulatory coordination for spectrum and orbital slot usage involved interactions with the International Telecommunication Union and national administrations such as India's licensing authorities and spectrum managers across African states. Commercial leasing, capacity trading, and service-level agreements followed industry practices common among carriers like Globecast and Eutelstat-related partners.
During its service life, Intelsat 20 experienced routine station-keeping maneuvers and capacity realignments typical for geostationary platforms; any anomalies would have been addressed by contingency procedures modeled on responses used by operators such as SES and Eutelsat. As with comparable spacecraft, end-of-life planning involves coordination for inclined orbit operations or graveyard transfer consistent with United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs guidelines and best practices followed by agencies like NASA and ESA. The satellite has contributed to continuity of service in regions reliant on geostationary distribution, complementing constellations from providers such as OneWeb and Starlink in different market segments.
Category:Communications satellites Category:Spacecraft launched in 2012 Category:Geostationary satellites