Alphasat

Following an extensive evaluation process, ESA selected Inmarsat geomobile mission for this first flight opportunity.
Both ESA and Inmarsat brought substantial funding to accomplish the mission.
In addition to the operational payload, ESA is also providing four Technology Demonstration Payloads (TDPs) for embarkation on the Alphasat. These constitute approximately 15% of the total payload embarked.
The contract with Inmarsat was signed in November 2007.
Following the successful implementation of the Inmarsat IV satellite series, Inmarsat is now able to deliver the new BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) family of services which provides a wide range of high data rate applications to a new line of user terminals for aeronautical, land and maritime markets.
The Mission
With the Alphasat mission Inmarsat extends the capabilities of this Geo–mobile infrastructure, both in terms of performances and capacity, resulting in an enhancement in the current services and additional capacity for new services.
The Alphasat mission definition is based around two main service types;
  • BGAN directional (as currently provided by Inmarsat IV)
  • BGAN Omni-directional (including handheld services)
Alphasat makes use of the additional 2x7 MHz of L band spectrum allocated at the WRC-03, which were not available to the Inmarsat IV satellites, when originally specified. It will be positioned at 25 degrees East, covering Europe, Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia.
Implementation of this Geo-mobile application necessitated the adaptation of the nominal Alphabus platform design to allow a 90 degree rotation of the satellite flight orientation (for better accommodation of the feed/reflector configuration) and the accommodation of the large deployable reflector. Both these adaptations are offered as options in the Alphabus portfolio, demonstrating the flexibility of this platform.
Key Features
  • Alphabus Service Module in geomobile configuration, compatible with Proton 4 m fairing
  • Repeator Module split in 2 halves, for ease of payload accommodation
  • Implementation of payload integrated processors providing payload flexibility through coverage and power reconfiguration capabilities
  • 11 m diameter deployable reflector
  • Total launch mass: more than 6 tons
  • Total Electrical power: 12 KW
Technology Demonstration Payloads
Following several technology studies and preliminary accommodation activities four TDPs have been selected for flight on the Alphasat these comprise;
  • An advanced Laser Communication Terminal to demonstrate GEO to LEO communication links at 1064nm
  • A Q-V Band communications experiment, known as the Aldo Paraboni Payload, to assess the feasibility of these bands for future commercial applications
  • An advanced Star Tracker with active pixel detector
  • An environment effects facility to monitor the GEO radiation environment and its effects on electronic components and sensors
User Segment and Applications
In the frame of the Alphasat programme ESA developed with Inmarsat and Industry a user segment associated with the advanced mobile payload embarked on-board the Alphasat. The User Segment and Application programmeprovides enhanced performance and allows for the provision of value added applications to mobile institutional and public users on a pan-European scale.
Benefits of the Alphabus & Alphasat programmes
  • In orbit-validation of the Alphabus product line, on a commercial mission
  • Completion of the environmental qualification testing of the Alphabus product line
  • Opportunity for demonstration of new European technologies

Related Pages

Published 13 August 2013
Last updated at 18 November 2014 - 14:40