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Tag: Asiasat 4

  • Asiasat 4 successfully launched on Atlas 3B

    Asiasat 4 successfully launched on Atlas 3B

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Atlas 3B(AC -204), the two-stage rocket capable of lifting payloads of upto 4500 kgs carried an Asian communication satellite, Asiasat 4, in space on 11 April 2003 (Hong Kong time 8:08 am on 12 April). Now, the system is empowered to provide broadcast services to more than 300 million viewers in the Asia Pacific region.

    Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat) had earlier announced that the postponement of the launch by a day due to high winds.

    A press release informs that AsiaSat 4, a Boeing 601HP satellite, will be deployed at the orbital location of 122 degrees East longitude. The new satellite will be the most powerful member of AsiaSat’s satellite fleet, carrying 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders with a 15-year design life, the release adds.

    The release also informs that AsiaSat 4’s pan-Asian C-band footprint will cover more than 40 countries and regions spanning from New Zealand to the Middle East. Its Ku-band coverage will consist of two high-power focused beams for East Asia and Australasia, as well as a new BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service) payload for Direct-to-Home (DTH) services in Hong Kong and the adjacent South China region.

    AsiaSat 4 is designed to provide advanced satellite services including broadband and IP solutions, and telecommunications services such as private networks for business and rural telephony in the Asia Pacific. Reports indicate that the new satellite has a life expectancy of 15 years.

    In addition, AsiaSat 4 will complement the company’s two existing satellites, AsiaSat 2 and AsiaSat 3S, allowing customers to enjoy greater flexibility for regional coverage and comprehensive back up options, adds a release.

    The release also says that the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas 3B rocket used an RD 180 liquid oxygen and kerosene main engine to boost the satellite into space. A liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen-powered Centaur upper stage placed the satellite into a geostationary orbit over Indonesia.

    The cost of the mission was about US $240 million, including the satellite and the launch vehicle, AsiaSat said.

  • Asiasat 4 scheduled for early April launch

    Asiasat 4 scheduled for early April launch

    HONG KONG: AsiaSat 4, the fourth satellite of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat), has arrived in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA aboard a chartered heavy lift cargo aircraft.

    Preparation for launching AsiaSat 4 by the Atlas IIIB rocket has commenced. This new satellite is currently scheduled for an early April launch.

    AsiaSat 4, a Boeing 601HP model, will be deployed at the orbital location of 122 degrees east longitude, to replace AsiaSat 1. The new satellite is designed to provide advanced satellite services such as DTH television broadcasting, VSAT networks for business, rural telephony, broadband and IP solutions.

    In a press statement, Asiasat CEO Peter Jackson was quoted as saying: “AsiaSat 4 will be the largest member of AsiaSat’s satellite fleet. Its unique and high performance C-band coverage will complement and provide redundancy for our two existing satellites, AsiaSat 2 and AsiaSat 3S. It will further expand our satellite capacity over the Asia Pacific region and enable our customers to enjoy unbeatable back up and greater flexibility for regional coverage.”

    “AsiaSat 4’s high power Ku-band beams customised for Australia, East Asia and Hong Kong would be the ideal platform for delivering Direct-to-Home (DTH) and broadband solutions to these regions,” Jackson adds.

    Carrying 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders with a 15-year design life, AsiaSat 4’s pan Asian C-band footprint will cover more than 40 countries and regions from Auckland to Tehran.

    The Ku-band coverage will consist of two high-power focused beams for East Asia and Australia, as well as a new BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service) Hong Kong payload for DTH services in Hong Kong and the adjacent South China region.

  • Reach first user of AsiaSat 4

    HONG KONG: Asia Satellite Telecommunications has signed telecoms carrier Reach Ltd as the first subscriber on its AsiaSat 4 to be launched in March this year.
    A Reuters report states that Reach, a 50:50 JV between Telstra and Pacific Century CyberWorks will lease one C-band transponder on AsiaSat 4. Asiasat’s CEO Peter Jackson said ” This new deal signals the beginning of the revival in demand for transponder capacity in the region and an improvement in the Asian economy.”
    The report states that a sluggish global economy and severe downturn in the media and telecommunications sector are hurting satellite operators. The utilisation rate of the firm’s AsiaSat 2 and AsiaSat 3 fell to 63 per cent in mid-2002 from 65 per cent at the end of 2001.
    Reach currently uses AsiaSat 2 to offer satellite service solutions to global carriers, broadcasters and corporate customers. It also provides tracking, telemetry and control services to AsiaSat from its Hong Kong teleport facility.
    AsiaSat 4, which will replace the retiring AsiaSat 1, is scheduled for launch in the second half of March after being postponed twice from May and September in 2002 due to technical issues. AsiaSat 4 will carry 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders including the four broadcast satellite service transponders to be used for Hong Kong’s DTH services.

  • AsiaSat 4 completing final system testing

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: AsiaSat 4, which will launch in March is completing its final integrated system test. Critical tests are being conducted to achieve the highest quality and reliability of the spacecraft before shipment to Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA.
    The individual stages of the Atlas rocket for launching AsiaSat 4 have arrived Cape Canaveral in preparation for final integration with the spacecraft.
    AsiaSat 4, the largest in AsiaSat’s satellite fleet, will be located at the orbital position of 122 degrees East. AsiaSat 4, carrying 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders, is designed to provide advanced satellite services across Asia and Australasia, including a high performance pan-Asian C-band beam and targeted Ku beams for delivering DTH (Direct-to-Home) and broadband solutions to greater China and Australia.

  • AsiaSat 4 launch rescheduled to end 2002

    AsiaSat 4 launch rescheduled to end 2002

    Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) has announced that its fourth satellite, AsiaSat 4 satellite will not launch this month, as scheduled earlier, due to manufacturing delays at Boeing.

    The decison, says the company, was taken following meetings with satellite manufacturer Boeing Satellite Systems. Asiasat 4 was earlier supposed to launch in May 2002 by the Atlas IIIB rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. Boeing has reportedly decided to conduct additional tests on AsiaSat 4 and other spacecraft to ensure the quality and reliability of its product line.

    The delivery of AsiaSat 4, a Boeing 601HP, is now expected to be delayed by at least four months, putting the new delivery date as sometime in September 2002. However, Asiasat CEO Peter Jackson has been quoted as saying that given the other scheduled launches in 2002, it might be difficult to find a launch slot before the end of the year.

    The company is in talks with International Launch Services (ILS), the launch services provider to determine a new launch date for AsiaSat 4. A new date will be determined in the next couple of months, the company says. The spacecraft will be located at the 122 degrees East orbital position, providing region-wide C-band coverage over Asia and focused Ku-band beams for East Asia and Australia. The satellite will carry 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders including the four BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service) transponders to be used for Hong Kong’s DTH (Direct-to-Home) services.