The STAR-2 Bus is a fully redundant, flight-proven, spacecraft bus designed for

geosynchronous A geosynchronous orbit (sometimes abbreviated GSO) is an Earth-centered orbit with an orbital period that matches Earth's rotation on its axis, 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds (one sidereal day). The synchronization of rotation and orbital ...

missions. It is a satellite platform, designed and developed by Thomas van der Heyden for the Indonesian Cakrawarta satellite program in the early 1990s, now manufactured by

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9, 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed, built, and deli ...

with an apogee kick motor to place a

communications satellite A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a Transponder (satellite communications), transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a Rad ...

into

geostationary orbit A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit''Geostationary orbit'' and ''Geosynchronous (equatorial) orbit'' are used somewhat interchangeably in sources. (GEO), is a circular orbit, circular geosynchronous or ...

, a thruster to provide the satellite with

orbital station-keeping In astrodynamics, orbital station-keeping is keeping a spacecraft at a fixed distance from another spacecraft or celestial body. It requires a series of orbital maneuvers made with thruster burns to keep the active craft in the same orbit as its ...

for a 15-year mission, and solar arrays to provide the satellite payload with 5 kW of electrical power.

Advantages

NGIS's GEOStar-2 bus design is unique within the satellite industry. NGIS's GEOStar-2 bus provides an affordable low-to-medium power satellite platform that is ideal for missions of this size. Rather than being a less efficient version of a larger, heavier product, NGIS's GEOStar-2 bus is designed specifically for the 1000 to 5550 watts payload class.

Design

The GEOStar-2 bus satellite is a modular, mass efficient structure, designed for simplified integration to reduce manufacturing cycle times. The structure is supported by a composite thrust cylinder, to which the bus, payload, nadir and base panels are connected. Energy from two multi-panel solar wings and lithium-ion batteries is electronically processed to provide 36 volts regulated power to the satellite throughout the mission. All active units aboard the satellite are connected through a 1553 data bus. Commands and telemetry are processed through the flight software resident on the flight processor, which provides robust autonomous control to all GEOStar-2 satellites. The modularity of the structure and the standard 1553 interfaces allow parallel assembly and test of the bus and payload systems, reducing manufacturing schedule risk by minimizing the time spent in serial satellite integration and test flow. GEOStar-2 is designed for missions up to 15 years in duration. The propulsion system is sized for ten years of station keeping in geosynchronous orbit. Built-in radiation hardness for the severe geosynchronous environment is achieved through conservative selection of electronic parts. Several available options augment the basic bus to provide improved pointing, more payload power, secure communications, higher downlink data rates or enhanced payload computing power.

Structure

* Bus Dimensions (H x W x L): 1.75 x 1.7 x 1.8 m * Construction: Composite/Al

Power subsystem

* Payload Power: Up to 5550 watts orbit average at 15 years * Bus Voltage: 24-36 VDC (nominal) * Solar Arrays: multi-junction

GaAs Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a III-V direct band gap semiconductor with a zinc blende crystal structure. Gallium arsenide is used in the manufacture of devices such as microwave frequency integrated circuits, monolithic microwave integrated circui ...

cells * Batteries:

lithium-ion A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses the reversible Intercalation (chemistry), intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically Electrical conductor, conducting solids to store energy. Li-ion batteries are c ...

Attitude control subsystem

* Stability Mode: 3-axis; zero momentum * Propulsion Subsystem * Transfer Orbit System: liquid bi-propellant * On Orbit:

monopropellant Monopropellants are propellants consisting of chemicals that release energy through exothermic chemical decomposition. The molecular bond energy of the monopropellant is released usually through use of a catalyst. This can be contrasted with biprop ...

(

hydrazine Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a simple pnictogen hydride, and is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odour. Hydrazine is highly hazardous unless handled in solution as, for example, hydraz ...

)

Command and data handling subsystem

* Flight Processor: MIL-STD-1750A * Interface Architecture: MIL-STD 1553B, CCSDS

Payload support

While primary applications are Fixed-Satellite Services (FSS) and Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS), the GEOStar-2 bus can be adapted for MSS, Earth and space science applications, as well as for technology demonstration or risk reduction programs. Depending on mission duration requirements, the GEOStar-2 bus can accommodate payloads in excess of 500 kilograms, and provide up to 5550 watts of power. Instrument data can be provided in standard format such as CCSDS or through secured encryption, as approved by the

National Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and proces ...

(NSA).

Shared launch opportunities

Due to the size and mass envelope of the satellite, the GEOStar-2 bus is compatible with almost all commercially available launch vehicles, maximizing opportunity for launch and access to space. While dedicated or single launch services are more readily available, the GEOStar-2 bus targets shared launch opportunities, where launch cost and launch-sharing opportunities are favorable.

Mission services

Customers can purchase the GEOStar-2 bus spacecraft bus alone, or as part of a turn-key service that includes an integrated payload, network operations center and launch vehicle. NGIS conducts spacecraft commissioning from its own ground station prior to transferring spacecraft control to the customer's operations center.

Satellite orders

, - ! Satellite ! Country ! Operator ! Type ! Transponders ! Launch date ( UTC) ! Rocket ! width="200pt", Changes ! Status , - , AMC-21 ,

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, SES Americom ,

Television broadcasting A television broadcaster or television network is a telecommunications network for the distribution of television content, where a central operation provides programming to many television stations, pay television providers or, in the United ...

, 24 Ku-band , ,

Ariane 5 ECA Ariane 5 is a retired European Heavy-lift launch vehicle, heavy-lift space launch vehicle operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana. It was used to deliver p ...

, , Active , - , Amazonas 4A ,

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, Hispasat , Communications , 24 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a ,

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

, Azercosmos , Communications , 24 C-band, 12 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , Eutelsat 5 West B , International ,

Eutelsat Eutelsat S.A. is a French satellite operator. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas, it has been the world's third-largest satellite operator in terms of revenues. Its subsidiary E ...

, Communications , 35 Ku-band , , Proton-M
Phase 4 , , Active , - , Galaxy 12 , United States ,

PanAmSat PanAmSat Corporation was a satellite service provider headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1984 by Reynold "Rene" Anselmo, it operated a fleet of communications satellites used by the entertainment industry, news a ...

, Television broadcasting , 20-24 C-band , , Ariane 5 G , , Active , - ,

Galaxy 14 A galaxy is a Physical system, system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar medium, interstellar gas, cosmic dust, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek ' (), literally 'milky', ...

, United States ,

, Television broadcasting , 20-24 C-band , ,

Soyuz-FG The Soyuz-FG was an improved variant of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle from the R-7 (rocket family), R-7 rocket family, developed by the Progress Rocket Space Centre in Samara, Russia. It featured upgraded first and second stage engines, RD-107A and ...

, , Active , - , Galaxy 15 , United States ,

, Television broadcasting , 20-24 C-band , , Ariane 5 GS , , Active , - , Galaxy 30 , United States ,

Intelsat Intelsat S.A. (formerly Intel-Sat, Intelsat) is a Luxembourgish-American multinational satellite services provider with corporate headquarters in Luxembourg and administrative headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, United States. Originally formed ...

, Television broadcasting , C-band, Ku-band, Ka-band,
and WAAS payload , ,

, , Active , - , Horizons-2 , United States,

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, SKY Perfect JSAT , Communications , 20 Ku-band , , Ariane 5 GS , , Active , - , HYLAS 2 ,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, Avanti Communications ,

Satellite internet Satellite Internet access is Internet access provided through communication satellites; if it can sustain high speeds, it is termed satellite broadband. Modern consumer grade satellite Internet service is typically provided to individual use ...

, 24 Ka-band , ,

, , Active , - , Intelsat 11 , United States ,

, Communications , 16 C-band, 18 Ka-band , , Ariane 5 GS , Formerly PAS 11 , Active , - , Intelsat 15 , United States ,

, Communications , 22 Ku-band , , Zenit-3SLB , , Active , - , Intelsat 16 , United States ,

, Communications , 24 Ku-band , , Proton-M
Phase 1 , Formerly PAS 11R , Active , - , Intelsat 18 , United States ,

, Communications , 24 C-band, 12 Ku-band , , Zenit-3SLB , , Active , - ,

Intelsat 23 Intelsat 23 is a communications satellite run by Intelsat which will provide communications services for the Americas, Western Europe and Africa. It is in a geosynchronous orbit located at 53° west and will replace Intelsat 707. It was built by ...

, United States ,

, Communications , 24 C-band, 15 Ku-band , , Proton-M
Phase 3 , , Active , - , Koreasat 6 ,

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

KT Corporation KT Corporation (Hangul: 주식회사 케이티), formerly Korea Telecom, is a South Korean telecommunications company, mobile network operator (MNO) and List of mobile virtual network operators in South Korea, mobile virtual network operator (M ...

, Television broadcasting , 30 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , MEASAT-3a ,

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

, MEASAT Satellite Systems , Television broadcasting , 12 C-band, 12 Ku-band , , Zenit-3SLB , , Active , - , Mexsat-3 ,

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, Mexican Satellite System , Mobile communications , 12 C-band, 12 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , N-STAR c ,

, NTT Docomo , Mobile communications , 1 C-band, 20 S-band , , Ariane 5 G , , Retired , - , New Dawn , United States ,

, Television broadcasting , 28 C-band, 24 Ku-band , ,

, Known as Intelsat 28 , Active , - , NSS-9 ,

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, SES World Skies , Communications , 28 C-band , ,

, , Active , - , Optus D1 ,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Optus Singtel Optus Pty Limited is an Australian Telecommunications in Australia, telecommunications company headquartered in Macquarie Park, a suburb in the Northern Sydney region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiar ...

, Television broadcasting , 24 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - ,

Optus D2 This is a list of the satellites operated by Optus, an Australian telecommunications company. The satellite communications facility is located at Belrose on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Optus' satellites are divided into 4 classes A, B, C and D. As ...

, Australia ,

, Television broadcasting , 24 Ku-band , , Ariane 5 GS , , Active , - , Optus D3 , Australia ,

, Television broadcasting , 24 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , SES-1 , United States , SES Americom , Communications , 24 C-band, 24 Ku-band, 2 Ka-band , , Proton-M
Phase 2 , Formerly AMC-4R , Active , - ,

SES-2 SES-2 is a communications satellite operated by SES. It was launched alongside the Arabsat-5C satellite. Spacecraft The platform is home to the first hosted payload, a mechanism by which governmental entities can fly modules on commercial ...

and CHIRP
(Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload) , United States , SES Americom , Communications , 24 C-band, 24 Ku-band, 2 Ka-band , ,

, Formerly AMC-5R , Active , - ,

SES-3 , SES-3 is a communications satellite operated by SES Americom (later SES World Skies. Now, SES). Spacecraft SES-3 was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), and is based on the Star-2.4 satellite bus. It is equipped with 24 C-ban ...

, United States , SES Americom , Communications , 24 C-band, 24 Ku-band, 2 Ka-band , , Proton-M
Phase 3 , , Active , - , SES-8 ,

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

, SES , Television broadcasting , 33 Ku-band , ,

Falcon 9 Falcon 9 is a Reusable launch system#Partial reusable launch systems, partially reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured in the United States by SpaceX. The first Falcon 9 launch was on June 4, 2010, an ...

, , Active , - , Sky-Mexico 1 ,

DirecTV DirecTV, LLC is an American Multichannel television in the United States, multichannel video programming distributor based in El Segundo, California. Originally launched on June 17, 1994, its primary service is a digital Satellite television, s ...

, Television broadcasting , 24 Ku-band, 2 R-band , ,

, Known as SKYM 1 , Active , - , Star One C3 ,

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Star One Star One was an Indian pay television channel based in Mumbai and owned by Star TV, with worldwide distribution handled by Fox International Channels. Launched on 1 November 2004, Star One was launched in the UK on Sky in November 2006. Sta ...

, Communications , 28 C-band, 16 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , Telkom-2 ,

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

Telkom Indonesia PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero) Tbk () officially shortened into PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, also simply known as Telkom, is an Indonesian multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications Conglomerate (company), conglom ...

, Communications , 24 C-band , ,

, , Retired , - , Thaicom 6 , Thailand ,

Thaicom Thaicom Public Company Limited is a Thai satellite operator and provider of satellite and telecommunication services since 1991. The company operates a fleet of four satellites covering Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Thaicom is a subsidiary of Into ...

, Communications , 24 C-band, 9 Ku-band , ,

, Known as AfriCom 1 , Active , - , Thaicom 8 , Thailand ,

, Communications , 24 Ku-band , ,

, , Active , - , Thor 5 ,

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

Telenor Telenor ASA ( or ) is a Norwegian majority state-owned multinational telecommunications company headquartered at Fornebu in Bærum, close to Oslo. It is one of the world's largest mobile telecommunications companies with operations worldwi ...

, Television broadcasting , 24 Ku-band , , Proton-M
Phase 3 , , Active , -

References

{{Reflist Satellite buses Orbital Sciences Corporation