Spacebus

Spacebus

Eutelsat 28A, a Spacebus 3000
Manufacturer Thales Alenia Space
Country of origin  France
Applications Communications
Specifications
Design life 15 years
Power 16 kW
Regime Geostationary
Production
Status In production
Built 69
On order 5
Launched 69
Failed 1
Lost 4
First launch 1985
Last launch 2012-12-08

Spacebus is a satellite bus produced at the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center in France by Thales Alenia Space. Spacebuses are typically used for geostationary communications satellites, and sixty-six have been launched since development started in the 1980s. Spacebus was originally produced by Aérospatiale and later passed to Alcatel Alenia Space. In 2006, it was sold to Thales Group as Thales Alenia Space.[1]

The first Spacebus satellite, Arabsat-1A, was launched in 1985. Since then, fifty two have been launched, with four more completed, and twelve outstanding orders. The launch of the 50th Spacebus satellite, Star One C1, occurred in November 2007.[2] It was a Spacebus 3000B3, launched by an Ariane 5 rocket flying from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

Several variants have been built: the early Spacebus 100 and Spacebus 300; followed by the Spacebus 2000, optimised for launch on the Ariane 4 carrier rocket; and the subsequent modular Spacebus 3000 and 4000 series, designed for use with the Ariane 5 rocket. Some Spacebus satellites are built using alternatives to US ITAR-controlled components, making it one of a few Western satellites that can be launched by Chinese Long March rockets.

History

Aérospatiale had produced a number of satellites, including Symphonie, with the German company Messerschmitt. On 9 December 1983,[3] the two companies signed the Franco-German Spacebus Agreement. The Spacebus designation was first applied to satellites which were under construction by Aérospatiale when the programme started. These included three satellites for Arabsat, which became the Spacebus 100 series, and five further satellites: two for Deutsche Bundespost, two for TéléDiffusion de France, and the Swedish Space Corporation's Tele-X, which became the Spacebus 300 series. Later series' names were followed by a number indicating the approximate mass of the bus in kilograms.[4] Spacebus designations were not applied retrospectively to satellites which had already been launched.

Architecture

Main article: Satellite bus

Spacebus satellites consist of a satellite bus, which provides power, propulsion, and other subsystems necessary for the satellite's operation, and a payload which is customisable depending on the customer's requirements. The bus was designed to be adaptable to perform various missions; however, as of 2009, only communications satellites have been ordered. It was also designed to be adaptable when the capacity of launch systems increased.

The bus is made of carbon fibre with a composite honeycomb structure. It contains fuel tanks, equipment needed to interface with a carrier rocket, and other critical systems. Panels are attached to the outside of the structure with externally mounted equipment, including the solar panels, payload, and engine. The payload, which is developed separately from the bus, takes up three panels. Once it has been outfitted with transponders or other equipment, it is transported to Cannes-Mandelieu, where it is integrated onto the bus.

The satellites are powered by rigid solar panels. Several configurations are used depending on the amount of power that the satellite is expected to require. The batteries used to store this power are produced by the Belgian company ETCA. Early satellites used nickel-hydrogen batteries, while later spacecraft use lithium-ion batteries.

Most Spacebus satellites use bipropellant, liquid-fuelled chemical engines to achieve their orbits, and subsequently perform station-keeping. Electric propulsion was used on the Stentor and Astra 1K satellites, both of which were subsequently involved in launch failures. A three-axis stabilisation system is used for attitude control.

Models

Spacebus satellites were developed to be compatible with a large number of available carrier rockets, particularly the Ariane family of rockets. As the performance of the Ariane has increased, the satellites have become larger to take advantage of this increased capacity.[5]

Spacebus 100

Deployment of Arabsat-1B from Discovery

Three Spacebus 100 satellites were produced for Arabsat, to serve the 22 members of the Arab League.[6] One of the solar panels on the first satellite, Arabsat-1A, failed to deploy resulting in reduced power to the spacecraft. This, combined with gyroscope issues, resulted in it spending most of its operational lifespan as a reserve satellite.[7]

Spacebus 300

Five direct-to-home television satellites were built using the Spacebus 300 bus, which provided 4.3 kilowatts (5.8 hp) of electrical power.[8]

Spacebus 2000

Hotbird-1, a Spacebus 2000

The Spacebus 2000 series was developed to use additional capacity provided by the Ariane 4. Its solar panels generated 3.5 kilowatts (4.7 hp) of power.[9]

Spacebus 3000

The Spacebus 3000 was introduced around the time the Ariane 5 entered service. Spacebus 3000 satellites have masses ranging between 2 to 6 tonnes (2.0 to 5.9 long tons; 2.2 to 6.6 short tons) and produce between 5 and 16 kilowatts (6.7 and 21.5 hp) of electrical power. Increasingly larger payload fairings allowed larger spacecraft to be produced. In 1991, the Satellite Alliance was formed, bringing together Aérospatiale, Alenia, and Space Systems/Loral.[5]

The first version of the Spacebus 3000 to be produced was the Spacebus 3000A, which was originally developed for Arabsat.[10] 3000A satellites were also ordered by Shin Satellite of Thailand and China's Sino Satellite Communications Company.[11]

Twelve 3000B2 satellites were ordered. Five of these were ordered by Eutelsat for their W Series, one of which later became Eutelsat 28A. A sixth order from Eutelsat was for Eutelsat 8 West A. Nordic Satellite AB, a Scandinavian company which later became SES Sirius, ordered Sirius 2, a replacement for the Spacebus 300-based TeleX satellite. Spanish satellite operator Hispasat ordered two satellites, and Arabsat ordered one satellite, Arabsat-3A. The final two satellites were ordered by the German Bundeswehr and were launched on 1 October 2009,[12] and in May 2010, respectively.[13]

Nine B3 satellites were ordered, three for Eutelsat, two for Star One of Brazil, GE-12 for GE Americom, Turksat 2A for Turksat, and the Stentor experimental communications satellite for CNES. Stentor was lost in a launch failure on the maiden flight of the Ariane 5ECA.Galaxy 17 was successfully launched in 2007 for INTELSAT.[11]

Spacebus 4000

Satellite Apstar VI, a Spacebus 4000C2

The Spacebus 4000 series was derived from the 3000 series[14] but featured upgraded avionics. The voltage of the electrical system was increased from 50 volts to 100 volts, and an integrated onboard computer, designed to be more flexible than previous versions, was added. It was also the first satellite bus to be equipped with an attitude and orbit control system with star trackers designed for use in geostationary orbit.[14]

The B series used the same basic structure as the 3000 series. The C version had a base measuring 2.2 by 2.0 metres (7.2 ft × 6.6 ft). An ITAR-free version is also offered, which does not use components produced in the United States in order to avoid restrictions under US International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This allows ITAR-free satellites to be launched on rockets that are not approved by the US Government, including the Chinese Long March.[15]

Five Spacebus 4000B2 satellites have been ordered: Turksat 3A for Turksat, Thor 6 for Telenor of Norway, Nilesat 201 for Nilesat of Egypt,[16] Athena-Fidus for the French and Italian space agencies CNES and ASI,[17] and Sicral-2 for the Italian Ministry of Defence and the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), a contract worth about €295m in total.[18]

Spacebus 4000B3 satellites are 3.7 metres (12 ft) in height and generate 8.5 kilowatts (11.4 hp) of power. So far, five have been ordered, including two for the French Délégation Générale pour l'Armement and two for RascomStar-QAF.[19]

The fifth, Palapa D1 for Indosat, uses the ITAR-free configuration, and was launched by a Long March 3B in September 2009, but was initially placed in a low orbit.[20] Thales Alenia Space made corrections allowing the satellite to reach the planned geostationary transfer orbit on 3 September.[21] It finally reached geostationary orbit on 9 September.[22] It is now undergoing on-orbit testing upon its arrival at 113° East about mid-September, where it will be used to provide communications to Asia and Australia. It has enough fuel for 10 years of service, according to Reynald Seznec, President of Thales Alenia Space, instead of the planned 15 years due to the orbit-raising maneuvers.[23][24]

The first Rascom satellite, Rascom-QAF1, suffered a propulsion system failure during its first apogee manoeuvre on 21 December 2007. It was confirmed to have reached its final geostationary orbit at a longitude of 2.85° east on 4 February 2008, but with only two years of expected operational life, compared to the fifteen expected prior to launch.[25] On 9 September 2008, the Rascom-QAF1R satellite was ordered to replace it, also based on the 4000B3 bus.[26]

The Spacebus 4000C1 has a height of 4 metres (13 ft), and is capable of generating 8.5 kilowatts (11.4 hp) of electricity. The only C1 to have been ordered so far is Koreasat 5 for Korea Telecom of South Korea. It was launched by a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL from the Ocean Odyssey platform on the equator, at 03:27 GMT on 22 August 2006.[14]

The Spacebus 4000C2, which has a height of 4.5 metres (15 ft), generates 10.5 kilowatts (14.1 hp) of power. Five have been ordered, all using the ITAR-free option, by companies in the Peoples' Republic of China. Chinasat, a state-owned company ordered two satellites, whilst the APT Satellite Company ordered three.[27] All were launched by Long March 3B rockets from Launch Area 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.[14]

Eight Spacebus 4000C3 satellites, each of which has a height of 5.1 metres (17 ft) and generates 13 kilowatts (17 hp) of power, have been ordered. SES Americom and Eutelsat ordered two spacecraft each.[28][29] The Eutelsat spacecraft are being built using ITAR-free parts, and one of the satellites, Eutelsat W3B launched on an Ariane 5 on 2010-10-28 and was declared lost on 2010-10-30 due to a fuel leak.[30] Eutelsat 21B was ordered by 9 June 2010.;[31] and launched 10 November 2012;[32] Eutelsat W3D ordered on 3 December 2010;,[33] launched 2013-05-14;[34] Russian satellite operator Gazprom also ordered two satellites for its Yamal programme[35]—the first time it had procured Yamal spacecraft that were not manufactured in Russia. Only one will be a Spacebus, the second one is based on an Express-2000 platform.[36]

The Spacebus 4000C4 bus is 5.5 metres (18 ft) high and can generate 16 kilowatts (21 hp) of power with its solar panels. Four have been ordered so far: Ciel 2 for Ciel Satellite of Canada, which was launched on 10 December 2008,[37] and three spacecraft for Eutelsat, W2A,[38] W7, launched by Proton on 23 November 2009.[14] and Eutelsat-8 West B, ordered on 11 October 2012.[39]

Ekspress-4000

On 6 December 2007, Thales Alenia Space signed an agreement with NPO PM of Russia to jointly develop the Ekspress-4000 bus, based on the Spacebus 4000.[40] The Ekspress-4000 is designed for direct injection into geostationary orbit by a Proton-M rocket.

Spacebus NEO

In 2014, Thales Alenia Space start the development of a new family - Spacebus NEO - to address future market needs capitalizing on the strong heritage from Spacebus, with the Avionics 4000 in particular, and from Alphabus, while also incorporating an optimized mechanical architecture to offer a product with guaranteed long-term viability. These new platforms will offer state-of-the-art technologies and will be available in various propulsion versions, including an all-electric one. The all-electric Spacebus NEO, capable of carrying payloads weighing over 1,400 kg, and with power exceeding 16 kW, will be available starting in mid-2015.[41]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Thales in Alcatel satellite deal". BBC News. 5 April 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  2. ↑ Christian Lardier, « Ariane-5 : un tir de l'industrie européenne – le 50e Spacebus », dans Air & Cosmos, N° 2100, du 16 novembre 2007
  3. ↑ Pierre Madon, « Satellites de télécommunications : demain les Spacebus - signature accord franco-allemand », dans Revue aerospatiale, N° 6, février 1984
  4. ↑ For example, Spacebus 2000 means about 2,000 kg
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 (French) (English) Guy Lebègue, (trad. Robert J. Amral), « Spacebus 3000: A Platform for 'Satellite Alliance' », in Revue aerospatiale, n°99, June 1993
  6. ↑ Spacebus 100 chronology
  7. ↑ Harland, David M; Lorenz, Ralph D. (2005). Space Systems Failures (2006 ed.). Chichester: Springer-Praxis. p. 221. ISBN 0-387-21519-0.
  8. ↑ Spacebus 300
  9. ↑ Spacebus 2000
  10. ↑ (French) (English) Guy Lebègue, (trad. Robert J. Amral), « Arabasat 2A: the new generation of Spacebus 3000 », in Revue aerospatiale, n°130, July 1996
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Spacebus 3000 chronology
  12. ↑ Ariane 5 is poised for launch with a mixed civilian/military telecom satellite payload
  13. ↑ See the launch, live on Arianespace videocorner
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Spacebus 4000
  15. ↑ ITAR free SPACEBUS 4000B2, 23 Jul 2008, telecom.esa.int
  16. ↑ Thales Alenia Space wins Nilesat-201 satellite contract, 3 June 2008, online www.thalesgroup.com
  17. ↑ THALES ALENIA SPACE CHOSEN TO BUILD ATHENA-FIDUS, THE FRENCH-ITALIAN DUAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
  18. ↑ THALES ALENIA SPACE AND TELESPAZIO SIGN CONTRACT FOR SICRAL 2
  19. ↑ "Sixth successful Arianespace mission in 2007: RASCOM-QAF1 and Horizons-2 in orbit". Arianespace.
  20. ↑ Chang Zheng-3B suffers third stage problem during Palapa-D launch, on Nasa Spaceflight, 2 September 2009, on line www.nasaspaceflight.com
  21. ↑ Thales Alenia Space announced today that the Palapa-D communications satellite has been placed into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), which will enable starting a nominal Launch Early Operation Phase, a Thales Alenia Space Press_Release, 3 September, on line www.thalesgroup.com
  22. ↑ Palapa-D communications satellite now in geostationary orbit, Thales Alenia Space Press_Releases, 9 September 2009, on line www.thalesgroup.com
  23. ↑ de Selding, Peter (11 September 2009). "Palapa-D to be Salvaged After Being Launched into Wrong Orbit". Space News. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  24. ↑ Bi Mingxin, Indonesian satellite reaches preset orbit despite skewed launch, China view, 2009-09-12, on line news.xinhuanet.com
  25. ↑ "RASCOM-QAF1 satellite injected in final geostationary orbit". Thales Alenia Space.
  26. ↑ Thales Alenia Space to supply RASCOMSTAR-QAF with a new telecommunication satellite, Cannes, 9 September 2008, www.thalesgroup.com
  27. ↑ APT Orders Backup Satellite from Thales Alenia Space a deal valued at 112.3 million euros ($148.7 million) including the satellite control center, SpaceNews, 30 April 2010
  28. ↑ Eutelsat awards W3B telecom satellite to Thales Alenia Space, Cannes, 26 February 2008, on www.thalesonline.com
  29. ↑ Eutelsat W3C ordered, Paris, 12 March 2009, on line on www.satellites.co.uk
  30. ↑ Eutelsat suffers spacecraft loss, BBC News 30 October 2010, Eutelsat suffers spacecraft loss
  31. ↑ Eutelsat Selects Thales Alenia Space to Build W6A Satellite, Satellite Today, 10 June 2010, Eutelsat Selects Thales Alenia Space to Build W6A Satellite
  32. ↑ Eutelsat 21B launched with success
  33. ↑ Thales Alenia Space has been commissioned to build the W3D satellite that will replace the W3B spacecraft
  34. ↑ ILS Proton Successfully Launches EUTELSAT 3D for Eutelsat
  35. ↑ Gazprom & Thales Alenia Space signed the contract for manufacturing 2 Yamal-400 comm. satellites, Cannes, 05 February 2009, Thales Alenia Space Press release, on line www.thalesgroup.com
  36. ↑ THALES ALENIA SPACE ANNOUNCES START OF YAMAL-400 PROGRAMME
  37. ↑ Successful launch for Ciel II satellite built by Thales Alenia Space, Thales Alenia Space Press release, 10 December 2008, on line www.thalesonline.com
  38. ↑ Eutelsat-W2, On line space.skyrocket.de
  39. ↑ Eutelsat selects Thales Alenia Space to build the EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite, boosting satellite broadcasting resources in the Middle East and North Africa
  40. ↑ Thales Alenia Space and NPO-PM to finalize an industrial cooperation agreement, Cannes, 6 December 2007, www.thalesonline.com/space/Press-Room
  41. ↑ Thales Alenia Space This Spacebus Has Terrific Options...Variety Of Versions, in Satnews Daily, September 9, 2014, Thales Alenia Space This Spacebus Has Terrific Options...Variety Of Versions

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