Bangkok--Oct 14---Shin Satellite
Shin Satellite Public Company Limited today announced that in-orbit testing of its new Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) satellite has been successfully completed and that Space Systems Loral, the manufacturer, had performed a data review with Shin Satellite to officially hand over the satellite to the company.
Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) was launched from the Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, in South America on Thursday August 11, 2005, and is the largest commercial satellite ever put into orbit at 6.5 tonnes. Following the successful injection of the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit after launch, the satellite went through a series of orbit-raising stages to achieve the geosynchronous orbit of 35,786 km, following which in-orbit testing (IOT) commenced for all the infrastructure and payload components. This successful conclusion to the IOT represents a major milestone for the project.
Thaicom 4 (IPSTAR) is based on US-based Space Systems Loral’s LS1300-SX model, with 94 beams. At full capacity, it will provide more than 45 Gigabits/sec for two-way broadband and other communications services based on the Internet Protocol to millions of people in 14 countries throughout the Asia Pacific Region. The system is designed to be inexpensive and easily available to everyone, irrespective of distance or terrestrial conditions.
The Company will now commence the next stage of commissioning individual gateways with the satellite at 119.5 degrees East.
Shin Satellite contact:
Ms. Nuchsara Thoundthad,
Public Relations, Shin Satellite Plc,
41/103 Rattanathibet Rd., Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
Tel. (66 2) 591-0736 to 49 Ext. 8493 Fax. (66 2) 591-0724,
email: [email protected] End.