MEXSAT 3 (Bicentenario)

Spacecraft nº:

Mexican spacecraft nº: 10

Launch data: Designation  39035 / 12075B Launch date  19 Dec 2012 - 21:49 UT Launch site  Kourou, ELA-3 Launch vehicle  Ariane-5ECA Mission  Gov./Mil.: Communication Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee  35784 x 35791 km Eccentricity  8,30E-05 Inclination  0.07 deg Period  1436.16 min

Description:

• Orbital was selected by the Boeing Company to provide the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) segment of the Mexsat satellite system for the Federal Government of Mexico. The Mexsat system is a three satellite system consisting of two Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spacecraft designed and built by Boeing (Mexsat Centenario & Mexsat Morelos 3) and one FSS satellite, Mexsat Bicentenario, designed and built by Orbital.
• Mexsat Bicentenario, also named Mexsat 3, will provide fixed communications services with 12 active C-band and 12 active Ku-band transponders. From its operating post at 114.9 degrees west longitude, the satellite's communications payload will reach users across Mexico and surrounding waters. Boeing is building two larger satellites tailored for mobile communications services. The Mexsat system is expected to be in service until 2028. Mexsat Bicentenario is based on Orbital's GEOStar 2 satellite bus. It will enter service in 2013, beaming broadband Internet, telephone, telemedicine, education and videoconferencing across Mexico. It will also reach rural communities not served by existing infrastructure. The Mexsat system will aid Mexican government officials in disaster response and national security applications, according to the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation.
• Performance:
  • C-band:
    Repeater: 12 active extended C-band transponders
    Antenna: 2.3 dual gridded deployable reflector
    
  • Ku-band:
    Repeater: 12 active extended transponders
    Antenna: 2.5 x 2.7 m single shell super-elliptical deployable reflector
    

Mission details:

• The satellites reached a 263 x 25821 km x 2.0 deg geostationary transfer orbit. On Jan 1 Skynet 5D was in GEO over 24E and Mexsat was over 114.8W.

Satellite tracking: