Having used the upstart launch provider SpaceX, the Luxembourg-based commercial satellite operator, SES, has selected Arianespace to launch the hybrid communications satellite, SES-12, on board an Ariane 5 ECA launch which will take place from Kourou, French Guiana, during the fourth quarter of 2017. This will be the 40th launch of an SES spacecraft on board an European Ariane launch vehicle.
According to an SES news release, The new satellite is designed to expand SES’s capabilities to provide direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting, VSAT, Mobility and High Throughput Satellite (HTS) data connectivity services in the fast growing Asia-Pacific region and on the Indian subcontinent. The spacecraft will be positioned at the well-established SES orbital slot of 95 degrees East.
The satellite is designed to operate for 15 years, with a payload comprised of 68 high-power physical Ku-band transponders and 8 physical Ka-band transponders. The spacecraft will be equipped with an electric plasma propulsion system for orbit raising and on-orbit manoeuvres and carry chemical propulsion as a back up. The payload of the hybrid SES-12 satellite consists of two distinct but complementary missions: first, traditional wide beam coverage, and second, a high-powered Ku-band multi spot beam payload (HTS). The traditional wide-beam mission consists of 54 (36 MHz equivalent) transponders that will provide state-of-the-art replacement and growth capacity for SES’s existing DTH, Government and VSAT customers, allowing for a seamless transition from NSS-6 to SES-12. In addition, the design provides incremental growth capacity to support new DTH platforms and other services targeting the Asia-Pacific region. The second mission consists of 70 Ku-band spot beams and 11 Ka-band spot beams delivering over 14 GHz for VSAT, Enterprise, Mobility and Government applications. This mission also includes a Digital Transparent Processor (DTP) which provides anti-jamming capabilities as well as increased payload flexibility in order to provide customized bandwidth solutions to SES customers.
