GiSAT-1

GiSAT-1 is a high-throughput geostationary communications satellite project by Global IP Cayman. It was to be designed and manufactured by Boeing Satellite Development Center on the Boeing-702MP satellite bus. It is intended to serve 35 Sub-Saharan Africa countries on the Ka-band and offer over 150 Gbit/s of bandwidth with a flexible digital payload. It was expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2018,[2] but the cancellation of the construction contract by Boeing in December 2018 left the launch of the satellite uncertain.[1]

Not to be confused with Indian satellite GISAT 1.

GiSAT-1
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorGlobal IP Cayman
Mission duration15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftGiSAT-1
Spacecraft typeBoeing 702
BusBoeing 702MP
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass6,000 kg (13,000 lb)
Power15 kW
Start of mission
Launch dateCancelled [1]
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteCape Canaveral
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Transponders
BandKa-band
Bandwidth>150 Gbit/s
Coverage area35 Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Europe
 

Satellite description

GiSAT-1 was being designed and manufactured by Boeing Satellite Development Center on the Boeing 702MP satellite bus. It was estimated to have a launch mass of 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) and a design life of more than 15 years.[3]

It was to be powered by two wings, with four solar panels each, of triple-junction GsAs solar cells providing a total of 15 kW.[3] It was to have a fully digital high-throughput Ka-band payload offering over 150 Gbit/s of bandwidth. It should offer its services in all the African continent and have four gateways in Europe for connectivity.[4]

History

On 12 September 2016, Boeing Satellite Development Center announced another win for its Boeing 702MP platform, with the order of GiSAT-1 from the start-up Global IP Cayman. It would be a 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) satellite with 15 kW of power generation with a fully digital high-throughput Ka-band payload offering over 150 Gbit/s of bandwidth. It was at the time expected to be launched in 2019.[3][5][4] On 3 April 2017, Global IP Cayman announced that it had signed an agreement with SpaceX to launch GiSAT-1 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.[2] On 6 December 2018, Boeing announced that it was cancelling the contract, citing lack of payment. According to the Wall Street Journal, Boeing intends to resell the nearly complete satellite to another customer.[1]

In October 2019, Global IP announced that it was seeking to renegotiate the contract with Boeing with the backing of a US$175 million investment from Bronzelink Holdings. The money would go towards completion of the mostly-complete satellite and fulfillment of contract payments. Because the launch order with SpaceX remains valid, GiSAT-1 will still be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket; the satellite's telemetry, tracking, and control will be managed by Hellas Sat.[6]

References
  1. Spegele, Brian; O'Keeffe, Kate (6 December 2018). "Boeing Backs Out of Global IP Satellite Order Financed by China". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  2. "Global-IP Announces the Selection of SpaceX to Launch its 150 Gbps GiSAT-1". Business Wire. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. "GiSat". Gunter's Space Page. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. "Boeing Communications Satellite to Expand Broadband Services in Africa". Boeing. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. "Global IP Broadband Services". Global IP Cayman. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  6. "Global IP's African Broadband Satellite Service to Try Again". Satnews. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
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