[SatNews] Inmarsat 5F-2 the second of three Inmarsat satellites of fifth generation (I-5) that will form Inmarsat’s GX fleet, providing seamless, globally available, high-speed broadband services on land, sea and in the air.
Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has today confirmed that its second Global Xpress (GX) satellite, Inmarsat-5 F2, has arrived at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in anticipation of its launch early in 2015. The satellite left the Boeing El Segundo, California, facility on December 16th, and was flown from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Kazakhstan in an Antonov AN-124 heavy transporter.
“The arrival of Inmarsat-5 F2 to the launch site in Baikonur demonstrates that we will be able to offer our high-speed Ka-band service, GX Aviation, early in the second half of 2015,” said Leo Mondale, President, Inmarsat Aviation. “The ground networks are in place and Honeywell will start transmission testing of the airborne satellite communications equipment imminently—we’re right on track to deliver this world-leading global network to our partners and airlines.”
The satellite designed by Space programs Department of Boeing Company on the order of British satellite telecommunication operator Inmarsat will be launched early 2015.
Inmarsat 5F-2 the second of three Inmarsat satellites of fifth generation (I-5) that will form Inmarsat’s GX fleet, providing seamless, globally available, high-speed broadband services on land, sea and in the air. When in orbit, Inmarsat-5 F2 will cover the Americas and the Atlantic ocean region. The first of I-5 satellites was successfully launched with the help of Proton-M booster in December 2013.
The first GX satellite, Inmarsat-5 F1, was launched at the end of 2013 and began delivering regional commercial services over Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia in July 2014.
The third GX satellite, Inmarsat-5 F3, has completed its final testing and is now ready for shipping to Kazakhstan in early 2015. F3 will complete the Global Xpress constellation by providing coverage over the Pacific Ocean Region.
GX is scheduled to commence global commercial services early in the second half of 2015.