Sky Muster

NBN-Co 1A
Mission type Communication
Operator NBN
COSPAR ID 2015-054A
SATCAT no. 40940Edit this on Wikidata
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
Longitude 140° E
Period 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds
Transponders
Band Ka band
Frequency Earth to the satellite being transmitted at 27 GHz to 31 GHz, satellite to the Earth being transmitted at 17.7 GHz to 22 GHz
Capacity Currently 135 Gbit/s combined (1A and 1B), final capacity 185 Gbit/s
Coverage area Australia mainland and some overseas territories

Sky Muster are geostationary (GEO) communications satellites operated by NBN Co Limited and built by SSL.[2][3] They were launched in 2015 and 2016 to provide fast broadband in very remote areas and offshore. They provide speeds up to 25/5 Mbit/s.[4]

Each Sky Muster has 101 spot beams,[5] 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.[6][7] The two satellites will provide high-speed broadband service to 400,000 Australian homes and businesses in rural and remote Australia.[8] The two satellites were designed to provide service for at least 15 years.[9]

Sky Muster I (NBN-Co 1A) was launched on 1 October 2015[10] from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, South America, alongside Argentina's ARSAT-2, on an Ariane 5ECA rocket.

Sky Muster I operates in geostationary orbit of 140° East. Its orbital position is 35,786 kilometres (22,236 mi) at the equator, north of Australia.[10] Sky Muster I became operational in April 2016.[11]

Sky Muster II (NBN-Co 1B) was launched on 5 October 2016, and operates in geostationary orbit of 145° East.[4][12]

Background

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.[13] 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.[8]

Bailey Brooks, a six-year old School of the Air student who lives on a cattle station 400 kilometres (250 mi) from Alice Springs, 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,[14] and her class named NBN-Co 1A "Sky Muster" as it would bring Australians together like a cattle muster.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Lift-off for first nbn satellite". nbnco.com.au.
  4. 1 2 Francis, Hannah. "Ten cool facts about NBN's forthcoming Sky Muster satellite service". Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "NBN-Co 1A – Ariane 5 VA226". spaceflight101.com.
  6. ↑ Hutchinson, James (30 March 2011), "NBN Co seeks solid satellite speeds", Computerworld, retrieved 27 April 2011
  7. ↑ Bingemann, Mitchell (1 June 2010), "Satellite operators shortlisted for national broadband network", The Australian, retrieved 27 April 2011
  8. 1 2 "Key Highlights – nbn successfully launches Sky Muster". nbnco.com.au.
  9. ↑ Sky Muster and NBN Co 1B
  10. 1 2 Tim Biggs (1 October 2015). "NBN's first satellite, Sky Muster, launches successfully into orbit". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "NBN Has Launched Its Sky Muster Broadband Service For Regional Areas". gizmodo.com.au.
  12. ↑ "Liftoff for second NBN satellite after delay". sbs.com.au.
  13. ↑ Computerworld, 8 February 2012: NBN Co and Space Systems/Loral team up for communications satellites
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "Outback glory: meet our competition winner Bailey Brooks". nbnco.com.au.
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