An artist's concept of the ACeS Garuda 1 satellite in space. Photo: Lockheed Martin

The ACeS Garuda-1 spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Company in Sunnyvale, California, for Asia Cellular Satellite headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. LMMS designs, builds, markets and operates turnkey satellite systems for the space-based telecommunications and remote sensing markets, and provides space-based solutions for other applications.

It offers one-stop shopping for satellite service providers, including the design and manufacture of spacecraft and ground systems, coordination of launch services and on-orbit support. The Asian Cellular Satellite System (ACeS) satellites are being constructed at the state-of-the-art Lockheed Martin Commercial Satellite Center.

The A2100AXX represents the newest generation of satellites, designed specifically for geostationary communications missions, which takes advantage of benefits derived from the latest technology improvements and a 12-year design life. Garuda-1, the first satellite that will serve the geo-based mobile telephone communications market in Asia. Garuda-1 is the first satellite of a constellation that comprises the ACeS System. ACeS will provide cellular communication service throughout Western and Central Asia, Eastern Europe and parts of Northern Africa.

Drawing shows the ACeS Garuda 1 satellite's coverage zone. Photo: ACeS

ACeS is an advanced mobile telephony and data service communication system that will enable customers equipped with hand-held terminals to communicate via high-quality, low cost digital signals that will provide access to voice, data, and fax services. The ACeS System is owned by Bermuda-based Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) International, with primary shareholders Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, Jasmine International Overseas Company Ltd. and the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company.

The satellite, an A2100AXX design, is planned to begin service in April 2000, following in-orbit checkout operations. The Garuda-1 payload includes separate L-Band transmit and receive antennas featuring 12 meter unfurlable mesh reflectors, 88 feed elements and 140 fixpoint beams (RHCP) and matrix amplifiers with 110 SSPAs (88 SSPAs active).

Lockheed Martin is building a regional mobile personal communications system, including a satellite, ground network and user terminals, for the Asian Cellular Satellite System. The ACeS system will greatly improve telephone communications throughout Southeast Asia.

The satellite will provide geo-based mobile telephony services to Asia, providing coverage of 60 percent of the world's population. The second ACeS satellite, Garuda-2, will serve first as a back-up to Garuda-1, and then allow the ACeS system to expand coverage to western and central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and northern Africa.