Arab Satellite Communications Organization
Encyclopedia
The Arab Satellite Communications Organization (often abbreviated as Arabsat) is a leading communications satellite
operator in the Arab World
, headquartered in the city of Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
. Arabsat owns and operates five satellites platforms at orbital positions 20°, 26° and 30.5° East. Arabsat was created to deliver satellite-based, public and private telecommunications services to the Arab States, in accordance with International Standards. With more than 20 member countries, the organization plays a vital role of enhancing communications in the Arab World
.
with a defined goal of serving in telecommunication, information, culture and education sectors. Arabsat has operated the Arabsat GEO telecommunications system since its first satellite launch in 1985.
of France. It is The world's best satellite with three-axis stabilized Spacebus 100 spacecraft with two deployable solar array wings, making it almost 68 ft (20.7 m) long and over 18 ft (5.5 m) wide when deployed in orbit. It weighs about 2,800 lb (1,270 kg) in its initial orbit, but some 1,490 lb (675 kg) of this is propellant. It has an onboard low-thrust motor that utilizes hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, and transfers from an initial elliptical to geosynchronous orbit by firing this motor. The remaining propellant is then used for station-keeping or moving over the life of the satellite.
Arabsat-1A, the first satellite of Arabsat, was launched by Ariane
on 8 February 1985. Shortly after launch it suffered a solar panel extension malfunction. Coupled with other failures, the satellite was soon relegated to backup status until it was abandoned completely in late 1991.
Arabsat-1B, the second flight model, was deployed on June 1985, from the Space Shuttle Discovery
on mission STS-51-G
, and placed into service near 26° East, and remained in operation until the summer of 1992. The crew who deployed it contained Salman Al Saud, the first Arab and Muslim, and only Saudi, to fly in space.
Arabsat-1C the third satellite of the series, was launched by Ariane on 26 February 1992 and operated until 1994. As a stop-gap measure to maintain network services until the Arabsat second generation spacecraft became available, the organization leased the Canadian Anik D2
spacecraft in 1993.
Arabsat-1D was renamed from a Hughes HS-376 bus originally carriing 24 active C-band transponders and moved from the Western Hemisphere during April - August 1993 to a position at 20° E.
in April 1993 based on a Spacebus 3000A platform.
Arabsat-2A, the first model, was launched in 1996.
Arabsat-2B followed shortly thereafter in an ongoing effort to maintain a multiple satellite network.
BADR-C (technically: Arabsat-2C) was renamed from PAS 5 and moved from the Western Hemisphere during November 2002 to a position at 26° E.
BADR-2 (technically: Arabsat-2D) was renamed from Hotbird 5 and moved from the position 13° E during November 2002 to a position at 26° E.
for the manufacturing of the first of the third-generation satellites, based on a Spacebus 3000B2 platform. BADR-3 (technically: Arabsat-3A) was launched to the orbit of 26° East, the same orbit of Arabsat-2A, in 1999 as the first satellite of the third generation.
platform. The first of these, Arabsat-4A, was lost in space due to a launcher failure. This led to the ordering of BADR-6 (technically: Arabsat-4AR) on 31 May 2006. The second fourth generation satellite, named BADR-4 (technically: Arabsat-4B), was launched on 8 November 2006. BADR-6 was launched 2008-07-07 on an Ariane 5
to replace the lost Arabsat-4A.
platform:
Up coming
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
operator in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
, headquartered in the city of Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Arabsat owns and operates five satellites platforms at orbital positions 20°, 26° and 30.5° East. Arabsat was created to deliver satellite-based, public and private telecommunications services to the Arab States, in accordance with International Standards. With more than 20 member countries, the organization plays a vital role of enhancing communications in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
.
History
The Arab Satellite Communication Organization (ARABSAT) was established on 1976 by the member states of the Arab LeagueArab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
with a defined goal of serving in telecommunication, information, culture and education sectors. Arabsat has operated the Arabsat GEO telecommunications system since its first satellite launch in 1985.
Coverage
Arabsat's satellites provide coverage to more than 100 countries in the Middle East, Africa and the major parts of Europe.Arabsat-1
Arabsat-1 are the first generation satellites built by an international team led by AérospatialeAérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
of France. It is The world's best satellite with three-axis stabilized Spacebus 100 spacecraft with two deployable solar array wings, making it almost 68 ft (20.7 m) long and over 18 ft (5.5 m) wide when deployed in orbit. It weighs about 2,800 lb (1,270 kg) in its initial orbit, but some 1,490 lb (675 kg) of this is propellant. It has an onboard low-thrust motor that utilizes hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, and transfers from an initial elliptical to geosynchronous orbit by firing this motor. The remaining propellant is then used for station-keeping or moving over the life of the satellite.
Arabsat-1A, the first satellite of Arabsat, was launched by Ariane
Ariane (rocket)
Ariane is a series of a European civilian expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. The name comes from the French spelling of the mythological character Ariadne....
on 8 February 1985. Shortly after launch it suffered a solar panel extension malfunction. Coupled with other failures, the satellite was soon relegated to backup status until it was abandoned completely in late 1991.
Arabsat-1B, the second flight model, was deployed on June 1985, from the Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
on mission STS-51-G
STS-51-G
STS-51-G was the eighteenth flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the fifth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 17 June 1985...
, and placed into service near 26° East, and remained in operation until the summer of 1992. The crew who deployed it contained Salman Al Saud, the first Arab and Muslim, and only Saudi, to fly in space.
Arabsat-1C the third satellite of the series, was launched by Ariane on 26 February 1992 and operated until 1994. As a stop-gap measure to maintain network services until the Arabsat second generation spacecraft became available, the organization leased the Canadian Anik D2
Anik (satellite)
The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. In Inuktitut, Anik means "little brother".-The Satellites:-Anik A:...
spacecraft in 1993.
Arabsat-1D was renamed from a Hughes HS-376 bus originally carriing 24 active C-band transponders and moved from the Western Hemisphere during April - August 1993 to a position at 20° E.
Arabsat-2
By the end of 1994, the Arabsat system had been reduced to only one satellite. A contract for two Arabsat second generation satellites was signed with AérospatialeAérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
in April 1993 based on a Spacebus 3000A platform.
Arabsat-2A, the first model, was launched in 1996.
Arabsat-2B followed shortly thereafter in an ongoing effort to maintain a multiple satellite network.
BADR-C (technically: Arabsat-2C) was renamed from PAS 5 and moved from the Western Hemisphere during November 2002 to a position at 26° E.
BADR-2 (technically: Arabsat-2D) was renamed from Hotbird 5 and moved from the position 13° E during November 2002 to a position at 26° E.
Arabsat-3
On November 7, 1996 a contract was signed with AérospatialeAérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
for the manufacturing of the first of the third-generation satellites, based on a Spacebus 3000B2 platform. BADR-3 (technically: Arabsat-3A) was launched to the orbit of 26° East, the same orbit of Arabsat-2A, in 1999 as the first satellite of the third generation.
Arabsat-4
On 22 October 2003, Arabsat held a contract signing ceremony for the manufacture and launch of the fourth generation of Arabsat satellites, based on the Astrium's Eurostar E2000+Eurostar (spacecraft)
Eurostar is the brand name for a satellite bus made by Astrium which has been used for a series of spacecraft providing telecommunications services in geosynchronous orbit . More than 60 Eurostar satellites have been ordered to date, of which 45 have been successfully launched since October 1990...
platform. The first of these, Arabsat-4A, was lost in space due to a launcher failure. This led to the ordering of BADR-6 (technically: Arabsat-4AR) on 31 May 2006. The second fourth generation satellite, named BADR-4 (technically: Arabsat-4B), was launched on 8 November 2006. BADR-6 was launched 2008-07-07 on an Ariane 5
Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
to replace the lost Arabsat-4A.
Arabsat-5
On 16 June 2007, Arabsat held a contract-signing ceremony for the manufacture and launch of the fifth generation of Arabsat satellites, based on the Astrium's Eurostar E3000Eurostar (spacecraft)
Eurostar is the brand name for a satellite bus made by Astrium which has been used for a series of spacecraft providing telecommunications services in geosynchronous orbit . More than 60 Eurostar satellites have been ordered to date, of which 45 have been successfully launched since October 1990...
platform:
- The first of the fifth-generation satellite, named BADR-5 (technically: Arabsat-5B), was launched by Proton at Arabsat's 26° East Direct-to-Home television "Hot Spot" on 3 June 2010.
- The second of the fifth-generation satellites, Arabsat-5AArabsat-5AArabsat-5A is a Saudi Arabian communications satellite operated by Arabsat. It will be used to provide television, internet and telephone services to Arabia, Africa and Europe....
, was launched by Ariane at the 30.5° East orbital location on 26 June 2010. - The third of the fifth-generation satellites, Arabsat-5C, was launched to the new 20° East orbital location on 21st September 2011.
Services
- Direct To Home (DTH) television broadcasting
- Broadband & Telephony backbone connectivity
- Satellite Internet
- VSATs
Fleet
In orbit- Arabsat-2B (20° E)
- Arabsat-5AArabsat-5AArabsat-5A is a Saudi Arabian communications satellite operated by Arabsat. It will be used to provide television, internet and telephone services to Arabia, Africa and Europe....
(30.5° E) - BADR-4 (26° E)
- BADR-5 (26° E)
- BADR-6 (26° E)
Up coming
- Arabsat-5C (20° E)
- Badr-7 (Arabsat-6B) (26° E)