Sky Muster
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | NBN |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | SSL 1300 |
| Manufacturer | SSL |
| Launch mass | 6,440 kilograms (14,200 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 30 September 2015 |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Transponders | |
| Band | Ka band |
| Coverage area | Australia and Pacific Islands[2] |
Sky Muster (NBN-Co 1A) is a geostationary (GEO) communications satellite operated by NBN Co Limited and built by SSL.[3][4] Sky Muster was launched on 1 October 2015[5] from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, South America, alongside Argentina's ARSAT-2, on an Ariane 5ECA rocket. Sky Muster will operate in geostationary orbit of 140° East. Its orbital position is 36,000 kilometres (22,000 mi) at the equator, north of Australia.[5] Sky Muster became operational in April 2016. [6] Sky Muster II (NBN-Co 1B), which will operate in geostationary orbit of 145° East, [7] was launched on 5 October 2016. [8]
Sky Muster has 101 spot beams,[9] which are focused satellite signals which are specially concentrated in power and cover a specific geographic area. The electromagnetic Ka band spot beams are used to carry information from the end users equipment on the ground to the satellites. Each satellite offers 80 gigabits per second of bandwidth.[10][11] The two satellites will provide high-speed broadband service to 400,000 Australian homes and businesses in rural and remote Australia.[12] The two satellites were designed to provide service for at least 15 years.[13]
The two NBN satellites, Sky Muster (NBN-Co 1A) and Sky Muster II (NBN-Co 1B), were conceived in 2012 under the Gillard Labor government, as part of the original National Broadband Network scheme and NBN Co contracted Space Systems/Loral (SSL) to build and launch the two satellites as part of a total investment costing A$2 billion.[14] The launch was conducted in accordance with the Space Activities Act 1998, which requires Ministerial approval for the launch of a space object from Australia or the launch of a space object by an Australian entity from an overseas location.[12]
Bailey Brooks, a six-year old School of the Air student who lives on a cattle station 400 kilometres (250 mi) from Darwin, won a competition to draw a picture of how the satellite benefits rural Australians. Her drawing of the rocket was printed on the payload fairing,[15] and her class named NBN-Co 1A "Sky Muster" as it would bring Australians together like a cattle muster.[16]
References
- ↑ "Assembly is completed for the Ariane 5 to orbit Sky Muster and ARSAT-2 on September 30". arianespace.com. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ↑ "Sky Muster and NBN Co 1B". SSL. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
When launched in 2015, the satellites will help bridge the digital divide, providing service to some of the most remote places in Australia, as well as its coastal islands and external territories including Norfolk Island, Cocos Island, Christmas Island, and Macquarie Island in the Antarctic.
- ↑ "SSL Delivers High Performance Broadband Satellite To Launch Base, Demonstrates Leadership In Satellites For Fast Internet With Satellite For Australia's Broadband Network". sslmda.com.
- ↑ "Lift-off for first nbn satellite". nbnco.com.au.
- 1 2 Tim Biggs (1 October 2015). "NBN's first satellite, Sky Muster, launches successfully into orbit". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ↑ "NBN Has Launched Its Sky Muster Broadband Service For Regional Areas". gizmodo.com.au.
- ↑ "Ten cool facts about NBN's forthcoming Sky Muster satellite service". smh.com.au.
- ↑ "Liftoff for second NBN satellite after delay". sbs.com.au.
- ↑ "NBN-Co 1A - Ariane 5 VA226 – Spaceflight101". spaceflight101.com.
- ↑ Hutchinson, James (30 March 2011), NBN Co seeks solid satellite speeds, Computerworld, retrieved 27 April 2011
- ↑ Bingemann, Mitchell (1 June 2010), Satellite operators shortlisted for national broadband network, The Australian, retrieved 27 April 2011
- 1 2 "Key Highlights - nbn successfully launches Sky Muster". nbnco.com.au.
- ↑ Sky Muster and NBN Co 1B
- ↑ Computerworld, 8 February, 2012: NBN Co and Space Systems/Loral team up for communications satellites
- ↑ "Ariane 5 is "signed" and ready for launch on Arianespace's fifth heavy-lift flight of 2015". arianespace.com. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ↑ "Outback glory: meet our competition winner Bailey Brooks". nbnco.com.au.