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Telesat’s Anik F1R Satellite Begins Commercial Service |
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OTTAWA, ON, October 4, 2005/Satnews Daily/ — Telesat has launched commercial services on its Anik F1R satellite, providing broadcasting and telecommunications capacity for Canadians, including direct-to-home satellite television.
Satellite manufacturer EADS Astrium said Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite has successfully completed in-orbit tests and has been placed at the 107.3ºW orbital slot, from where commercial service has commenced. The satellite was formally handed over to Telesat on October 1, 2005.
The EADS Astrium team in Toulouse took control and began operating the Anik F1R satellite following its launch on 9 September 2005 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The satellite arrived in geostationary orbit on 14 September and, after full deployment of its antenna reflectors and 36m wingspan solar array, began in-orbit platform tests, swiftly followed by thorough payload tests at the 118.7°W location in geostationary orbit. The satellite was then moved to the 107.3°W orbital location. Upon arrival at this operational station, Telesat officially took possession of its new satellite and commenced transferring North American traffic to it. All spacecraft functions are performing fully as expected, EADS said.
Telesat’s Anik F1R also carries a navigation payload that enhances the global positioning system used in aviation across Canada and the United States — making North American air navigation safer and more reliable than ever before.
“With Anik F1R, Telesat continues its long tradition of developing and delivering the most advanced satellite applications and services,” said Larry Boisvert, Telesat’s president and CEO. “Whether it’s the entertainment we watch on TV, or the health and safety information used in public services, Telesat satellites carry services that benefit millions of people every day.”
Telesat’s major customers, including CTV, CHUM Television and CBC, will use Anik F1R to deliver high-quality, reliable broadcasting services from coast to coast. The satellite will also play a key role in Star Choice’s national direct-to-home satellite television service.
Telesat’s Anik F1R payload consists of 32 Ku-band transponders, 24 C-band transponders, and two navigation transponders. Anik F1R, co-located with Telesat’s Anik F1 satellite, operates from the orbital position at 107.3 degrees West Longitude. Telesat will transfer its existing North American traffic from Anik F1 to Anik F1R, allowing Anik F1 to focus exclusively on service to South America. Anik F1R has an estimated mission life of 15 years.
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