O3b FM3

Spacecraft nº:

UK spacecraft nº: 54

Launch data: Designation  40082 / 14038D Launch date  10 Jul 2014 Launch site  Ko, ELS Launch vehicle  Soyuz-STB Fregat-MT Mission  Communication Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  8060 x 8071 km Eccentricity   Inclination  0.03 deg Period  287.93 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS06, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry four satellites for O3b Networks, which will provide broadband service to developing countries. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch
• O3B FM8 is a broadband communications satellite part of the O3b Network, a company based in Britain's Channel Islands with a mission to link developing countries via high-speed Internet. The has a unique orbit 5,000 miles (8,047 km) over the equator, reaching customers in a band between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south latitude, home to most of the world's population. The spacecraft host Ka-band antennas to broadcast services to customers out of reach of terrestrial broadband networks, boosting data throughput and connection speeds in homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. O3b's name is short for the "other 3 billion," referencing the approximate number of people without reliable, high-speed Internet connections. The company sells broadband capacity to national telecom networks, luxury cruise liners and Internet service providers, providing the backbone for widespread connectivity on ships, islands, in remote jungles and in dense urban centers.
• The satellites were originally to be launched on Zenit-3SL (2) boosters, but changed in 2009 to Soyuz-STB Fregat-MT boosters.

Mission details:

• Delayed from August and early September 2013.
• The second quartet of O3b communications satellites was launched by Soyuz from the Centre Spatial Guyanais on Jul 10, 2014 into 7830 x 7840 km x 0.0 deg orbits.
  The Fregat stage was left in a 7657 x 7692 km orbit. O3B Networks Ltd, based in the UK Channel Islands, intends to provide space-based broadband service to the `other 3 billion' people without internet access. The 700 kg satellites are built by Thales Alenia/Roma.

External links:

• Wikipedia: Satellite Information
• Satellite tracking (n2ya.com): Real time satellite tracking