ARSAT-2 is a geostationary communications satellite operated by ARSAT and built by the Argentine company INVAP.[6] It was launched from French Guiana alongside Sky Muster satellite using an Ariane 5ECA rocket on September 30, 2015 at 20:30hs UTC, becoming the 400th satellite to be launched by Arianespace.[7][8] It is licensed to be located at 81° West longitude geostationary slot.[9][10] ARSAT-2 is the second geostationary satellite built in Argentina, after ARSAT-1. Structurally and mechanically it is a copy of the ARSAT-1, the only difference being the payload and thus it has different antenna configuration.[11][2]

ARSAT-2
ARSAT-2 in INVAP.
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorARSAT
COSPAR ID2015-054B[1]
SATCAT no.40941[1]
Mission duration15 years
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftARSAT-2
BusARSAT-3K[2]
ManufacturerINVAP
Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass2,977 kilograms (6,563 lb)[3]
Power4,600 W[4]
Start of mission
Launch date20:30, September 30, 2015 (UTC) (2015-09-30T20:30Z)[5]
RocketAriane 5ECA
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude81° West
Transponders
Band20 (24 36 MHz equivalent) IEEE Ku band and 6 (13 36 MHz equivalent) IEEE C band transponders[2]
FrequencyKu band and C band
BandwidthKu band: 864 MHz
C band: 464 MHz
Coverage areaNorth and South America
ARSAT-2 Mission Logo
ARSAT-2 Mission Logo
ARSAT Satellite Fleet

Payload

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ARSAT-2 payload was supplied by Thales Alenia Space.[12] It consists of both Ku band and C band sections.[2]

The Ku band has 20 physical transponders. Of those, sixteen have a 36 MHz bandwidth and four have 72 MHz. Thus the satellite has a maximum capacity of 864 MHz Ku or 24 transponder equivalent. A 2 m (6.6 ft) deployable antenna and a 1.3 m (4.3 ft) fixed Gregorian antenna.[2]

The C band section has a single 1.6 m (5.2 ft) deployable antenna that is fed by six physical transponders. Four have 72 MHz of bandwidth and the other two have 88 MHz. The total available C Band bandwidth is thus 464 MHz (or 12.9 transponder equivalent).[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ARSAT 2 Location - TLE". www.n2yo.com. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Belluscio, Alejandro G. (2015-09-21). "ARSAT-2: Argentina consolidates as Latin American satellite leader". NASA SpaceFlight. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  3. ^ Ariane 5 Flight VA226 - Launch kit (PDF). Arianespace Service & Solutions. September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  4. ^ Flight Ariane 226 - Launch kit (PDF). Airbus Defense & Space. September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
  5. ^ Bergin, Chris (2015-09-30). "Ariane 5 conducts dual launch for Australia and Argentina". NASA SpaceFlight. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  6. ^ "ARSAT Satellites". INVAP. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  7. ^ "El Arsat-2 va rumbo a la Guayana francesa para ser lanzado al espacio" [The Arsat-2 going to French Guaiana for space launch] (in Spanish). Telam. 2015-08-18. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  8. ^ Clark, Stephen (2015-09-30). "Live coverage: Ariane 5 rocket soars with Sky Muster, Arsat 2". SpaceFlightNow.com. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  9. ^ "Aprueban la posición orbital para el satélite Arsat 2" [Arsat-2 orbital slot approved] (in Spanish). Telam. 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  10. ^ Resolution 22 (in Spanish). Secretaría de Comunicaciones. 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  11. ^ "Diseño y fabricación" [Design and Manufacturing] (in Spanish). ARSAT S.A. Archived from the original on 2016-07-27. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  12. ^ "Argentina's second telecoms satellite, ARSAT-2, successfully launched". Thales Group. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
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