Intelsat 38

Intelsat 38 is a communications satellite operated by Intelsat, a leading provider of satellite communications services, including television broadcasting, broadband internet, and mobile network connectivity, in partnership with companies like Vodafone, Orange S.A., and Deutsche Telekom. The satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space, a European multinational corporation that produces commercial aircraft, defence and space systems, and helicopters, in collaboration with Thales Alenia Space, a French-Italian aerospace manufacturer that has worked on projects like the International Space Station and Galileo navigation system. Intelsat 38 is designed to provide high-speed internet and television services to customers in Europe, Africa, and Asia, including BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera, through its C-band and Ku-band transponders. The satellite's launch was facilitated by Arianespace, a French company that provides launch services for satellites, in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales.

Introduction

Intelsat 38 is part of the Intelsat EpicNG series, a next-generation satellite platform developed by Intelsat to provide high-throughput satellite services, in collaboration with companies like Hughes Network Systems and General Dynamics Mission Systems. The EpicNG series is designed to provide faster and more reliable internet connectivity, as well as higher-quality television broadcasting, to customers around the world, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO. Intelsat 38 is one of several satellites in the EpicNG series, which includes Intelsat 29e, Intelsat 33e, and Intelsat 35e, all of which were launched by Ariane 5 ECA from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The EpicNG series is supported by a network of ground stations and teleports, including those operated by Telesat, SES S.A., and Eutelsat Communications.

Spacecraft Description

The Intelsat 38 spacecraft is based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, a popular satellite bus designed by Airbus Defence and Space for a variety of missions, including communications satellites, navigation satellites, and earth observation satellites. The Eurostar E3000 platform is known for its high power and payload capacity, making it an ideal choice for large and complex satellite missions, such as those operated by Inmarsat, Intelsat, and SES S.A.. Intelsat 38 has a mass of approximately 6,200 kilograms and is equipped with a range of instruments and antennas, including C-band and Ku-band transponders, as well as Ka-band and Q-band payloads, which are used to provide high-speed internet and television services to customers in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The satellite's power system is based on a combination of solar panels and batteries, which provide a total power output of over 20 kilowatts, sufficient to support the satellite's payload and communications systems.

Launch and Orbit

Intelsat 38 was launched on September 18, 2018, from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, which is operated by Arianespace and has been used to launch a range of satellites, including Galileo navigation system, International Space Station, and Rosetta mission. The launch was successful, and the satellite was placed into a geostationary transfer orbit, from which it used its own propulsion system to reach its final orbit at 45 degrees east longitude, where it replaced the Intelsat 12 satellite, which was launched in 2000 and had reached the end of its operational life. Intelsat 38 is operated by Intelsat and is used to provide a range of communications services, including television broadcasting, broadband internet, and mobile network connectivity, to customers in Europe, Africa, and Asia, in partnership with companies like Vodafone, Orange S.A., and Deutsche Telekom.

Mission and Operations

The primary mission of Intelsat 38 is to provide high-speed internet and television services to customers in Europe, Africa, and Asia, including BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera. The satellite's C-band and Ku-band transponders are used to provide a range of communications services, including television broadcasting, broadband internet, and mobile network connectivity, in partnership with companies like Hughes Network Systems and General Dynamics Mission Systems. Intelsat 38 is also used to support a range of other applications, including telemedicine, distance learning, and emergency communications, in collaboration with organizations like the United Nations, Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders. The satellite is operated by Intelsat and is monitored and controlled from the company's teleport facilities in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and London, which are connected to a network of ground stations and teleports operated by Telesat, SES S.A., and Eutelsat Communications.

Specifications

The Intelsat 38 satellite has a range of specifications that make it an ideal platform for providing high-speed internet and television services, including a mass of approximately 6,200 kilograms, a power output of over 20 kilowatts, and a range of instruments and antennas, including C-band and Ku-band transponders, as well as Ka-band and Q-band payloads. The satellite's Eurostar E3000 platform provides a high degree of flexibility and reliability, making it an ideal choice for a range of missions, including communications satellites, navigation satellites, and earth observation satellites. Intelsat 38 has a planned mission duration of 15 years and is designed to provide a range of communications services to customers in Europe, Africa, and Asia, including television broadcasting, broadband internet, and mobile network connectivity, in partnership with companies like Vodafone, Orange S.A., and Deutsche Telekom. The satellite's specifications are similar to those of other satellites in the Intelsat EpicNG series, which includes Intelsat 29e, Intelsat 33e, and Intelsat 35e, all of which were launched by Ariane 5 ECA from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

Category:Communications satellites