Spanish satellite telecommunications operator, Hispasat, has appointed Space Systems Loral (SSL) to build the Amazonas 5.
Amazonas 5 has a high throughput Ka-band spot beam payload, which will be used for broadband service in South America, Central America and Mexico.
It also has a Ku-band beam for fixed satellite services, which will be used for television, corporate networks and other telecommunications applications.
The multi-mission payload of the Amazonas 5 will have 24 Ku band transponders to provide three coverage areas as well as 35 Ka band beams.
“We are very happy to team with SSL on Amazonas 5,” said Carlos Espinós, chief executive officer of Hispasat. “As the leader in commercial satellite manufacturing, SSL is well-positioned to support our current innovation and expansion initiatives by providing us with an outstanding satellite.”
“I would like to thank Hispasat for its ongoing confidence in SSL,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “Amazonas 5 is the fourth satellite that we will build for HISPASAT, with two currently on orbit and another in backlog. We look forward to continued teamwork on this high performance satellite that will help Hispasat broaden the availability of high quality communications in Latin America.”
The Amazonas 5 is based on SSL’s 1300 platform, which provides the flexibility needed to be able to house a wide range of payloads for commercial communications satellites. With approximately 9.8 kW of power, the Amazonas 5 is designed to deliver service for 15 years or longer and will be designed, manufactured and tested at the SSL facilities in Palo Alto, California. It is due to be launched in 2017.
