Engineering:Alcomsat-1
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) |
| COSPAR ID | 2017-078A |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 5,225 kg (11,519 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23:11, December 10, 2017 (UTC) |
| Rocket | Long March 3B |
| Launch site | Xichang Satellite Launch Center |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 24.8° west |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 20 (24 36Mhz equivalent) IEEE Ku band and 6 (13 36Mhz equivalent) IEEE C band transponders |
| Frequency | Ku band and C band |
| Bandwidth | Ku band: 864 Mhz C band: 464 Mhz |
Alcomsat-1 is the first Algerian communications satellite. It was carried by Chinese launcher Long March 3B from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in Sichuan Province, 2,200 km southwest of Beijing.[1]
The satellite was launched on 10 December 2017 and is designed for 15 years operational lifetime. It is a partnership between Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and China . It is dedicated to telecommunications, television broadcasting and internet.
Operations
The satellite was developed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and is based on the DFH-4 platform. Its communications payload is composed of 33 operational transponders (19 in Ku band, 12 in Ka band and 2 in L band). The satellite will operate for 15 years on the geosynchronous orbit. Launch mass was around 5,225 kilograms (11,519 lb).[1]
The DFH-4 (DongFangHong-4) platform is a large telecommunications satellite platform of the next generation. It provides high capability in output power and communication capacity ranking with international advanced satellite platforms.
The applications for the DFH-4 platform are not limited to high capacity broadcast communication satellites and it can be used as a tracking and data relay satellite, regional mobile communication satellite, etc.
The platform comprises propulsion module, service module and a solar array system. It has a payload capacity of 588 kg and an output power of 10.5 kW by the end of its lifetime. Its reliability by the end of its lifetime is more than a 0.78 industry ratio.
The platform is equipped with 22 Ku-band transponders (four 54 MHz and eighteen 36 MHz), three receiver antennas, and two transmission antennas.
The DFH-4 can support the transmission of 150~200 TV programs simultaneously to ground users using a 0.45 meter antenna device. The DFH-4 satellite also features strong capabilities against hostile disturbance and jamming. The satellite's power supply includes two 6 meter solar panels.
Control centers
The Alcomsat-1 satellite system is managed by two control and operation centers: the Space Telecommunications Systems Exploitation Center (CESTS) in Bouchaoui – Algiers, and the Space Telecommunications Operations Center (COTS) of Boughezoul – Médéa, which are responsible for monitoring from ground stations, in continuous operation, the state of health of the satellite, and for managing multimedia applications.[2]
See also
- Algeria national space programs
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Barbosa, Rui C. (2017-12-10). "Chinese Long March 3B lofts Alcomsat-1 for Algeria" (in en-US). https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/chinese-long-march-3b-alcomsat-1-algeria/.
- ↑ "Alcomsat-1" (in fr). https://asal.dz/?page_id=1347.
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