* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: THAICOM 6 satellite

Blobrana · L

SpaceX Secures Launch Contract in Major Asian Market

Thai satellite company THAICOM Plc. has chosen Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) to launch the new Thaicom 6 telecommunications satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) from its Cape Canaveral launch site in the second quarter of 2013.
The contract brings another international launch to the United States to fly with SpaceX. Thaicom is the eighth non-U.S. customer manifested for upcoming flights aboard the Falcon 9.
The Thaicom 6 satellite is designed to serve the growing satellite television market in South and South-East Asia, as well as Southern Africa. Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, VA , and expected to weigh about 3,200 kilograms at launch, the satellite will operate from 78.5 degrees east and carry 18 C-band and eight Ku-band transponders. Thaicom 6 is planned to be in service by the middle of 2013.

Source SpaceX

Blobrana · L

THAICOM Announces The THAICOM 6 Satellite Project

THAICOM Public Company Limited announced today that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has approved the THAICOM 6 satellite that was proposed by the Company and the Board of Directors of THAICOM Plc. has approved the investment in this project which is worth approximately US$160 million. THAICOM 6 will expand the Company's business in providing satellite services to customers in particular, services for distributing video (broadcasting) such as satellite television. The demand for satellite transponders in the C-band and Ku-band frequencies in Southeast Asia, East and South Asia are forecasted to be strong.
Thaicom 6 satellite is considered a medium-size satellite of three-axis stabilized type similar to Thaicom 5 with the total of 26 channels (or transponders): 18 C-band transponders and 8 Ku-band transponders. It will weigh 3,000 kilograms with a minimum life of 15 years of service. The company will launch the Thaicom 6 into the orbit at 78.5 degrees East and it will co-located with Thaicom 5. The company will start the Thaicom 6 project immediately and is expected to launch the Thaicom 6 satellite into orbit within the second quarter of the year 2013, the construction of which takes approximately two years.

Source