Satelites Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. (Satmex) ? Eutelsat Americas
Mass at launch
5500 kg
Dry Mass
2300 kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Equipment
48 Ku-band transponders
Solar array
2 deployable solar arrays
Stabilization
Propulsion
DC power
13000 W
Design lifetime
15 yrs
Location:
Date
Position
Remarks
Dec 2016
116.8° W
Description:
EUTELSAT 117 WEST B is a geostationary satellite operating along the equator at 116.8 degrees West longitude, where it will join a sister spacecraft launched in
2013. Equipped with 48 Ku-band transponders, Eutelsat 117 West B's four distinct regional beams will provide premium coverage of Mexico, Central America and the
Caribbean, South America and the Southern Cone. The satellite will strengthen video capacities at 117 degrees west and offer key services to telecom operators and
government service providers in Latin America. The spacecraft's capabilities will also serve the direct broadcast market in Latin America. Eutelsat 117 West B also
hosts a navigation beacon for the Federal Aviation Administration, adding a replacement node to a fleet of GPS augmentation payloads carried by commercial satellites
in geostationary orbit.
Mission details:
Falcon 9 vehicle 26 flew on Jun 15, 2016. The second stage made two burns to deliver a pair of Boeing BSS-702SP satellites to supersynchronous transfer orbits.
This is the second matched pair of all-electric-propulsion payloads, which use ion engines to complete the trip to GEO.
ABS-2A will supplement Asia Broadcast Satellite's ABS-2, and Eutelsat 117 West B (the former Satmex 9) will provide service for Eutelsat Americas, supplementing
Satmex 8 (now renamed Eutelsat 117 West A).