Engineering:ViaSat-1

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Short description: High throughput communications satellite
ViaSat-1
NamesVS-1, VIASAT-IOM
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorViasat Inc. / Telesat
COSPAR ID2011-059A
SATCAT no.37843
Mission duration15 years (planned)
12 years, 8 months, 23 days (elasped)
Spacecraft properties
BusLS-1300
ManufacturerSpace Systems/Loral
Launch mass6,740 kg (14,860 lb)
Dry mass3,650 kg (8,050 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date19 October 2011, 18:48:58 (2011-10-19UTC18:48:58Z) UTC
RocketProton-M/Briz-M
Launch siteBaikonur 200/39
ContractorInternational Launch Services
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude115.1° west
Perigee altitude35,783 kilometres (22,235 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude35,802 kilometres (22,246 mi)[1]
Inclination0.00 degrees[1]
Period1436.10 minutes[1]
Epoch25 January 2015, 04:39:48 UTC[1]
Transponders
Band56 Ka-band
Coverage areaContiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada
 

ViaSat-1 is a high throughput communications satellite owned by Viasat Inc. and Telesat Canada.[2][3] Launched October 19, 2011 aboard a Proton rocket, it held the Guinness record for the world's highest capacity communications satellite with a total capacity in excess of 140 Gbit/s, more than all the satellites covering North America combined, at the time of its launch.[4]

ViaSat-1 is capable of two-way communications with small dish antennas at higher speeds and a lower cost-per-bit than any satellite before.[5]

The satellite is positioned at 115.1 degrees West longitude geostationary orbit point, with 72 Ka-band spot beams; 63 over the U.S. (Eastern and Western states, Alaska and Hawaii), and nine over Canada.

The Canadian beams are owned by satellite operator Telesat and are used for the Xplornet broadband service to consumers in rural Canada. The US beams provide fast Internet access called Exede, Viasat's satellite Internet service.[6]

ViaSat-1 is part of a new satellite system architecture created by Viasat Inc. The objective is to create a better satellite broadband user experience,[7] making satellite competitive with DSL and wireless broadband alternatives for the first time.[8]

See also

References

External links