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XTAR Begins Commercial Service On XTAR-LANT

XTAR-LANT. Image credit: SSLoral
by Staff Writers
Rockville MD (SPX) May 02, 2006
XTAR has reported that the second component of its X-band satellite network, XTAR-LANT, has completed in-orbit testing and has entered full commercial service, joining the XTAR-EUR satellite that entered service in April 2005.

Stationed at 30 degrees west longitude, XTAR-LANT carries eight 100-watt wide-band X-band transponders in both right- and left-hand circular polarization. The payload enables greater flexibility and enhanced capabilities utilizing legacy X-band equipment. The satellite is a 1300-class model built by Loral Space Systems of Palo Alto, Calif. Its designed service life is 15 years.

XTAR-LANT's coverage area encompasses a region extending from Denver in the United States to the South American and African continents and across the Atlantic to the Middle East.

Combined with XTAR-EUR's coverage, XTAR-LANT can provide X-band capacity from Denver east to Singapore. XTAR-LANT's steerable spot beams can be positioned anywhere within the satellite's footprint and is designed to be compatible with existing X-band terminals, including dishes under 2.4 meters.

"With the beginning of service on XTAR-LANT, XTAR can now offer X-band services in North America for homeland security applications and one-hop connectivity to Europe and the Middle East," said Denis Curtin, XTAR's chief operating officer.

"The satellite's payload is extremely flexible," Curtin added. "It covers a large geographic area with its two global beams and has three spot beams that can be relocated within the satellite's coverage area. This flexibility, added to XTAR-EUR's coverage in Asia, adds tremendous capabilities for government and military users across most of the globe."

XTAR is a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and HISDESAT.

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KazSat Satellite Delivered To Baikonur
Moscow, Russia (SPX) May 02, 2006
Russia's Khrunichev spacecraft center has delivered KazSat 1, Kazakhstan's first communications satellite, to Baikonur Cosmodrome for further preparations for its scheduled June 8 launch, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.









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