Ariane 5 is a major element in Europe’s unrestricted, independent access to space. Airbus Defence and Space, as prime contractor and lead manufacturer, is one of the keys to this success, with experience dating back to the beginnings of the European space industry. Kourou, French Guiana. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space / Ariane Space

Kourou, French Guiana - June 2, 2017

• All-electric propulsion for orbit-raising and on-station manoeuvers for the first time on a high power satellite inaugurates significant mass savings on this class of mission

• Innovative payload technology will dynamically distribute power between spot beams to provide internet connectivity to aircraft over the Pacific

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators, has been successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana by Ariane 5.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators, has been successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana by Ariane 5. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

The satellite will provide enhanced telecommunications, in-flight broadband and broadcast services for the Asia-Pacific region.

Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

“We are the first company to demonstrate full electric propulsion for satellites of this size and capacity,” said Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Space Systems at Airbus.
“With this spacecraft we are clearly setting a new benchmark - enabling powerful and complex satellites to be launched in the most cost efficient manner.”

Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

EUTELSAT 172B combines electric power of 13 kW with a launch mass of around 3,500 kg only, thanks to the latest EOR (Electric Orbit Raising) version of Airbus’ highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

Full electric propulsion for initial orbit raising and all on-station manoeuvres, with Xenon gas ejected at high speed using only electric power supplied by solar cells, relieves operators of the need to include tons of chemical propellant, leading to up to 40% mass savings on the satellite.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

Customers can therefore either achieve a significant saving on launch costs, or a substantial increase of the payload power for a given mass.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

Furthermore the Hall Effect Technology used by Airbus makes transfer to the operational orbit significantly faster than other electric propulsion technologies.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

Innovation solutions include two deployable robotic arms to orientate the satellite’s electric propulsion thrusters to control thrust direction and attitude during different phases of the mission.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

In addition, WALIS (Wide Angle Localisation Integrated System) is a proprietary network of ground stations developed by Airbus around the world, to enable Airbus engineers to control orbit raising operations until the satellite reaches geostationary orbit.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

The development of Airbus’ Eurostar all electric satellites has been supported by ESA and space agencies of European countries, in particular in France by CNES in the framework of the PIA programme (Plan d’Investissements d’Avenir) and in the UK by the UK Space Agency.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

EUTELSAT 172B hosts three distinct payloads that will strengthen Eutelsat’s capabilities across Asia-Pacific markets: a C-band payload, a regular Ku-band payload and a high throughput Ku-band payload designed for in-flight connectivity along Pacific air corridors.

Courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

In that regard, the satellite features an innovative multi-port amplifier (MPA) on the payload to distribute dynamically the satellite’s power between its 11 spot beams to provide internet connectivity for aircraft flying across the Asia-Pacific region.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

The flexibility of the MPA means that more power can be allocated to each spot beam as demand increases giving aircraft passengers a better service.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

The MPA technology was developed by Airbus as part of the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme and supported by the UK Space Agency.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

Additive layer manufacturing, or 3D printing, is further exploited for several elements on this satellite, including for a single printed bracket that is 35% lighter than and quicker to manufacture than the complex component it replaced.

EUTELSAT 172B, the first high power all-electric telecommunications satellite worldwide built by Airbus for Eutelsat. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services.

In 2016, it generated revenues of EUR 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000.

Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats.

Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe’s number one space enterprise and the world’s second largest space business.

In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.


Press contacts:

Ralph Heinrich
+49 (0)171 30 49 751
ralph.heinrich@airbus.com  

Jeremy Close
+44 (0)7766 536 572
jeremy.close@airbus.com  

Guilhem Boltz
+33 (0)6 34 78 14 08
guilhem.g.boltz@airbus.com  

Francisco Lechón
+34 630 196 993
francisco.lechon@airbus.com  


Source: Airbus Defence and Space

https://airbusdefenceandspace.com/  



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