Engineering:GEOStar

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The GEOStar is a family of satellite buses designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. The family started focused on small geostationary communications satellites. The first iterations focused on the sub-5 kW commercial segment that was left vacated after the retirement of the HS-376 satellite bus. It started with the STARBus on CTA Space Systems, which was later bought successively by Orbital Sciences, Orbital ATK, and most recently Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.[1][2]

History

Originally developed by CTA Space Systems, won its first order with IndoStar-1.[3] Orbital Sciences Corporation acquired CTA in 1997 and continued selling the platform under the STAR-1 designation.[4] It was able to sell three STAR-1 satellites to B-SAT of Japan, BSAT-2a, BSAT-2b and BSAT-2c. Orbital then introduced a new version of the platform known as STAR-2. Its first launch was with the sale of the satellite bus only, with N-STAR c.[1]

With the introduction of the LEOStar satellite bus, STAR-2 was renamed as GEOStar-2, a platform that eventually was capable of up to 5.5 kW of power production.[5][6] Orbital would later introduce the GEOStar-1 platform, capable of only 1.5 kW of power production. It is not to be confused with the original STAR-1, since GEOStar-1 is actually the project Aquila, a platform even smaller than the GEOStar-2 designed for military applications in geostationary orbit and medium Earth orbit.[7]

On March 10, 2014, Orbital introduced the GEOStar-3 platform. Not only was this a bigger platform that could generate up to 8 kW of power, but it also offered a satellite stacking feature for a dual launch option.[8][9] On April 29, 2014, Orbital Sciences announced that it would merge with Alliant Techsystems to create a new company called Orbital ATK, Inc. On February 9, 2015, Orbital ATK started operating as an entity.[10]

During 2015, Orbital ATK would introduce a variation of the bus dedicated to servicing spacecraft in geostationary orbit, the Gemini bus.[11] They would announce their first win for Gemini platform on April 12, 2016, with the agreement to sell the services of Mission Extension Vehicle-1 to Intelsat in 2019.[12]

Platforms

Through the years there have been different variations of the platform:

  • Gemini: platform designed for rendezvous capabilities. It can carry payloads with a mass of up to 1,700 kg (3,700 lb) and requiring up to 3 kW of power. Its expected design life is 6 to 15 years and has a 21 to 36 month to delivery lead time.[11]
  • GEOStar-1: micro platform for government satellite. It can carry payloads with a mass of up to 100 kg (220 lb) and requiring up to 1.5 kW of power. Its expected design life is 5 to 7 years and has a 27 to 30 month to delivery lead time.[7]
  • GEOStar-2 (originally STAR-2): small platform for commercial clients. It can carry payloads with a mass of up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) and requiring up to 5.5 kW of power. Its expected design life is 15 to 18 years and has a 24 to 27 month to delivery lead time.[6]
  • GEOStar-3: medium platform for commercial clients. It can carry payloads with a mass of up to 800 kg (1,800 lb) and requiring up to 8 kW of power. Its expected design life is 15 to 18 years and has a 27 to 30 month to delivery lead time.[9]
  • STAR-1 (originally STARBus): small commercial satellite platform. Originally developed by CTA, bought by Orbital Sciences Corporation. Could handle payloads with a mass of up to 200 kg (440 lb) and requiring up to 555 W of power. It used a solid Star 30CBP apogee kick motor for orbital circularization and had a 10-year design life.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Richmond, Christopher W. (2008). "The Growth of Orbital Sciences and the Market for Small GEO Satellites". Space Japan Review (English Version) (AIAA JFSC) (55). http://satcom.jp/English/e-55/executivecommente.pdf. Retrieved 2016-09-06. 
  2. ↑ Rothblatt, Martin (1991). "Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communications System". Proceedings of the 34th IAF/IISL Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space (International Institute of Space Law): 319–320. https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxyb3RoYmxhdHRjdnxneDo2OTdiNmViODk2MWZlMGJi. 
  3. ↑ "Orbital's Indostar Direct Broadcast Satellite Shipped To South American Launch Site". Orbital Sciences Corporation. August 21, 1997. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orbitals-indostar-direct-broadcast-satellite-shipped-to-south-american-launch-site-75105862.html. 
  4. ↑ "Orbital Completes Purchase of CTA Space Systems; Combined Manufacturing Experience On Over 85 Satellites Strengthens Market Position; New Corporate and Space Systems Group Management Appointments Announced". Orbital Sciences Corporation. August 18, 1997. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orbital-completes-purchase-of-cta-space-systems-combined-manufacturing-experience-on-over-85-satellites-strengthens-market-position-new-corporate-and-space-systems-group-management-appointments-announced-75053112.html. 
  5. ↑ "Spacecraft Buses". Orbital ATK. http://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/spacecraft-buses/default.aspx. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "GEOStar-2 Fact Sheet". Orbital ATK. 2014. https://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/science-national-security-satellites/national-security-systems/docs/GEOStar2_Fact_Sheet.pdf. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "GEOStar-1 Fact Sheet". Orbital ATK. 2014. https://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/science-national-security-satellites/national-security-systems/docs/GEOStar1_Fact_Sheet.pdf. 
  8. ↑ "Orbital Introduces the GEOStar-3 Commercial Communications Satellite Platform". Orbital ATK. March 10, 2014. https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/releaseorbital.asp?prid=43. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "GEOStar-3 Fact Sheet". Orbital ATK. 2014. https://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/science-national-security-satellites/national-security-systems/docs/GEOStar3_Fact_Sheet.pdf. 
  10. ↑ "Orbital ATK Marks First Day of Operations Following Completion of Merger". Orbital ATK. February 10, 2015. https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/release.asp?prid=12. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Gemini Bus Fact Sheet". Orbital ATK. 2016. http://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/spacecraft-buses/docs/Gemini.pdf. 
  12. ↑ "Pioneers In Space: Orbital ATK Announces Intelsat as Anchor Customer for New Satellite Life Extension Service". Orbital ATK. April 12, 2016. http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/release.asp?prid=137. 
  13. ↑ Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2015-08-28). "OSC: StarBus → Star-1". http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/osc_star-1.htm. 

External links



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