The Optus spacecraft undergoes pre-launch preparations at the Guiana Space Center. Photo: ESA/CNES/Arianespace

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, has announced that the Optus C1 communications satellite, built by SS/L under contract from Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for SingTel Optus and the Australian Department of Defence, has successfully completed a complex series of in-orbit tests. The satellite, launched June 11 from the Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, was handed over to Optus and the Australian Department of Defence for operational service on July 18.

Optus C1 achieved geostationary orbit on June 20. In-orbit tests, conducted by a combined team of Loral and Mitsubishi engineers, demonstrated performance that accurately reflects the results of ground tests before launch.

Optus C1 is one of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, carrying a total of 16 antennas that provide 18 beams across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as global beams covering a large area from Malaysia to Hawaii. The advanced communications payload operates in four different frequency bands -- commercial services at Ku-band, and military communications at UHF, X- and Ka-bands. The spacecraft is operating from an orbital slot at 156 degrees East longitude.

Optus, a leading Australian telecommunications service provider, will use the Optus C1's Ku-band payload to distribute video, direct-to-home TV, and telephony and Internet connections to remote areas.

For the Australian Department of Defence, the satellite's Ka-band payload provides high-data-rate broadcast coverage for video, and voice and data communications. The X-band payload provides medium- to high-data-rate, voice and data communications for land and maritime applications. The UHF payload provides secure low-rate voice and data communications to mobile platforms.

Optus C1 is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 geostationary satellite platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. The 1300 is designed to achieve a long life, in this case in excess of 15 years. The 1300 achieves high stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias attitude control systems. A system of high-efficiency solar arrays and batteries provide uninterrupted electrical power. In total, SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,000 years of on-orbit service. Total satellite power will be approximately 10 kW at end of life, and the spacecraft had a launch mass of nearly five metric tons.

Optus managed the procurement, together with the Australian Department of Defence. Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), the prime contractor, teamed with SS/L, which designed, assembled, integrated and tested the spacecraft at its California facility. SS/L also supplied the Ku-band subsystem. MELCO was responsible for the overall payload.

Space Systems/Loral is a premier designer, manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services that include mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defense communications, environmental monitoring, and air traffic control. SS/L is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. Through its Skynet subsidiary, it owns and operates a global fleet of telecommunications satellites used by television and cable networks to broadcast video entertainment programming, and by communication service providers, resellers, corporate and government customers for broadband data transmission, Internet services and other value-added communications services. Loral also is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of satellites and satellite systems through its Space Systems/Loral subsidiary.