Hispasat’s new telecommunications satellite is slated to launch within the next fortnight.
In a presentation at its Madrid headquarters, Elena Pisonero, president of Hispasat, confirmed Hispasat 36W-1 satellite (H36W-1) would launch on January 27 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on board a Soyuz launch vehicle.
H36W-1 has 20 Ku-band transponders and additional capacity for up to 3 Ka-band transponders over the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. It will open the orbital position located at 36 degrees West, providing Hispasat’s fleet with new and optimised coverage over South America, Europe and the Canary Islands.
It is also the first satellite built on the SmallGEO platform, which was jointly developed by the European Space Agency and the German manufacturer OHB System AG. The design of this platform allows for a substantial reduction in the mass of the satellite thanks to the use of electric propulsion throughout its entire useful life, thereby reducing launching costs and meeting the highest requirements for telecommunications services.
“With the development of this new satellite, Hispasat is now at the forefront of initiatives for the use of payloads in innovative communications, through which it will be possible to offer the latest in communications services,” said Pisonero.
“We will provide support to our clients in the area of direct-to-home (DTH) television platforms and in High and Ultra High Definition, and we will also provide more efficient broadband services thanks to the Ka-band capacity incorporated in the satellite”.
The new satellite was financed through Spain’s contribution to the European Space Agency.
