Argentina Places Communications Satellite Into Orbit
October 21, 2014Argentina launched a geostationary satellite October 16 to provide cell phone, digital TV, internet and data services to much of South America.
The satellite was launched from French Guayana's Kourou space base and is in geostationary orbit, occupying the 81 West orbital slot, 36,000 km away from Earth. The location offers coverage from the U.S. to the Malvinas Islands.
The satellite cost around $270 million and is expected to have a useful life of around 15 years.
ARSAT-1 is just the first step of a plan by Argentina's government for a series of satellites that could transmit signals to all of Latin America. A second satellite is expected to be launched in 2015. While ArSat-1 is a KU-band satellite, the second craft reportedly will use C-band to reinforce audiovisual distribution.
ARSAT-1 was built by INVAP, with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space serving as lead equipment suppliers. The operator is Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anonima (ARSAT).
Additional Resources:
IHS Aerospace and Defense
