Telstar 12

Telstar 12 is a commercial communications satellite operated by Telesat, a leading global satellite operator based in Ottawa, Canada. The satellite was launched into a geostationary orbit on October 19, 2015, from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, using an H-IIA rocket provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The launch was a significant milestone for Telesat, as it marked the company's 15th satellite in orbit, joining a fleet that includes Telstar 14R, Telstar 18V, and Nimiq 6, which provide services to customers such as Bell Canada, Shaw Communications, and Hughes Network Systems.

Introduction

The Telstar 12 satellite is part of a new generation of high-performance communications satellites designed to provide advanced broadband and telecommunications services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Americas. The satellite's design and construction were led by Space Systems/Loral (SSL), a leading manufacturer of commercial satellites based in Palo Alto, California, with a rich history of building satellites for Intelsat, SES S.A., and Eutelsat Communications. The Telstar 12 satellite is based on the SSL 1300 platform, which has been used for numerous other communications satellites, including Intelsat 30e, Intelsat 31, and SES-9, launched by Ariane 5, Proton-M, and Falcon 9 rockets.

Spacecraft Characteristics

The Telstar 12 satellite has a mass of approximately 4,900 kilograms (10,800 pounds) and is equipped with 52 transponders operating in the Ku band and C band frequencies. The satellite's power is provided by two solar arrays and a lithium-ion battery, which enable it to generate up to 12 kilowatts of power. The satellite's propulsion system is based on a Xenon-fueled ion thruster, which provides high efficiency and long-term station-keeping capabilities, similar to those used on Inmarsat's Alphasat and Eutelsat's Eutelsat 3B. The satellite's design life is 15 years, and it is expected to provide services to customers such as BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, and Orange S.A..

Launch and Orbit

The Telstar 12 satellite was launched on October 19, 2015, at 06:00 UTC, from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, using an H-IIA rocket provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The launch was successful, and the satellite was placed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 250 kilometers (155 miles) and an apogee of 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles). The satellite then used its onboard propulsion system to raise its orbit to the final geostationary orbit at 15 degrees west longitude, where it will provide services to customers such as Vodafone Group, Telefónica, and Telenor Group.

Payload and Services

The Telstar 12 satellite is equipped with a payload that includes 52 transponders operating in the Ku band and C band frequencies. The satellite's payload is designed to provide a range of services, including broadband internet access, telecommunications, and broadcasting services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Americas. The satellite's services will be used by a range of customers, including telecommunications operators such as AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Sprint Corporation, as well as broadcasters such as BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera.

Operations and Status

The Telstar 12 satellite is operated by Telesat, which provides satellite operations and maintenance services to ensure the satellite remains operational and provides high-quality services to customers. The satellite is controlled from Telesat's mission control center in Ottawa, Canada, which is staffed by experienced satellite operators and engineers who monitor the satellite's performance and respond to any issues that may arise. The satellite's status is continuously monitored, and its performance is regularly evaluated to ensure it meets the required standards, similar to those of Intelsat's Intelsat 34 and Eutelsat's Eutelsat 8 West B.

History and Development

The Telstar 12 satellite was ordered by Telesat in 2013 as part of the company's strategy to expand its satellite fleet and provide additional capacity to meet growing demand for satellite services. The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) under a contract valued at approximately $300 million, which included the design, construction, and launch of the satellite, as well as in-orbit testing and commissioning. The satellite's development was a collaborative effort between Telesat, SSL, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which provided the H-IIA rocket used for the launch, similar to the launch of JCSAT-14 and GSAT-18. The satellite's launch marked a significant milestone for Telesat, as it expanded the company's satellite fleet and provided additional capacity to meet growing demand for satellite services from customers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.