Thailand’s IPSTAR Satellite Passes Final Test

iPSTAR-1 will provide direct-to-desktop, last-mile services, including new multimedia and data services to customers in Asia, India, and Australia.

BANGKOK, Jan. 10/Satnews Daily/ — Thailand's Shin Satellite PCL has announced its new broadband iPSTAR-1 satellite is on schedule for launch in March after completing a final test on its antennae system.

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the U.S. manufacturer of the iPSTAR-1, informed Shin Satellite PCL last week that the spacecraft has now successfully concluded its antenna patterns and end-to-end payload tests in compact antenna test range (CATR), the last of a series of tests to complete qualification of the satellite.

iPSTAR, Shin Satellite said, is on schedule and the company expects the final preparations for delivery by SS/L to be made next with the completion of this important qualification step.

CATR is an examination of the complete end-to-end communication channels including transmit and receive performance and coverage of service areas of the satellite after the satellite had been subjected to simulated space (thermal vacuum test) and launch environments (dynamics test).

Then, SS/L will perform final routine electrical systems checks and preparation of the satellite for delivery. The pre-shipment review of iPSTAR satellite is scheduled for the third week of January 2005 to review the readiness of the satellite prior to shipment to its Arianespace launch site in Kourou, French Guiana in South America.

Shin Satellite added with the completion of this important qualification step, the satellite is on schedule to move on to the final preparations for delivery by SS/L.

Recent Story:

Shin Satellite Taps Tandberg Television for Video Distribution Upgrade and DTH Network