Watch the SES-17 launch onboard an Ariane 5 launcher operated by Arianespace from the Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on 23 October at 11:10 pm local time (02:10 am UTC).
About SES-17
Quite simply, the most advanced and versatile satellite in our fleet. SES-17 is a Ka-band High Throughput System (HTS) Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite and the first of its kind. SES-17 has been engineered to give our customers high-speed broadband AND more flexibility, wherever they are located: at sea, in the air or on land.
Built by Thales Alenia Space and launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana on 23 October 2021, the satellite is positioned over the Americas, the Caribbean and over the Atlantic Ocean to deliver unmatched broadband connectivity through our partners.
The launch of SES-17 marked the first step in the integration of our multi-orbit GEO-MEO fleet to create a truly inter-operable network. SES-17 and O3b mPOWER – our medium earth orbit (MEO) constellation - both use our Adaptive Resource Control (ARC) software. The ARC has been designed specifically to leverage the flexibility of digital payloads, concentrating power in specific beams as and when needed.
Are you a space enthusiast? Here are more SES-17 facts at the time of launch in 2021!
1
SES-17 is the most advanced and largest GEO satellite ever procured by SES and ever built by Thales Alenia Space (TAS). It will weigh over six metric tons at launch, with a payload power of 17kW at the beginning of its 15-year design life.
2
It will be the first GEO satellite to use ARC, an industry-first software system for automated allocation and optimisation of capacity. ARC leverages the full flexibility of totally digital payloads, autonomously adapting space and ground resources on the fly to meet customer needs.
3
It will have nearly 200 user beams connected up to its 16 gateways. These beams can be connected to any other beam at any time. This combined with the ability to dynamically change the power and frequency allocation of any beam means that SES-17 can adapt to changing customer needs in real-time.
4
In the event of rain fade at one of 16 SES-17 gateways, ARC will and can move traffic to another gateway to ensure that Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are met.
5
When launched it will have the most advanced Digital Transparent Processor (DTP) of any orbiting satellite. It will keep that distinction until the launch of O3b mPOWER. The DTP will have a dedicated Telemetry and Telecommand (TM/TC) link; and this link is more than 1,000 times faster than the TM/TC links for other GEO satellites in our fleet.
6
The DTP combined with flex Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs) enables SES-17 to form practically unlimited number of communication routes.
7
SES-17 is the first commercial satellite to incorporate a high efficiency Mechanically Pumped Loop (MPL) thermal control. This innovative way of conducting heat out of the spacecraft is the result of 20 years research by TAS and the European Space Agency (ESA). To put it simply, the process is quite close to what happens in a fridge!
8
The Thales Alenia Space TVAC chamber is one of the largest Vacuum chambers in Europe. But that wasn’t enough for our spacecraft. To make the testing possible and have the Earth deck radiative extensions of SES-17 fit in, the TAS team had to make some adjustments and eventually carve out the door of the chamber!
9
The solar arrays are the largest and most powerful arrays ever manufactured by TAS. SES-17 will be the first satellite to fly the large version of these panels. With both solar wings deployed, SES-17 will have a wingspan of 48 meters – that’s taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro!
2022
SES-17 Goes Operational!
JUNE - The satellite has reached the GEO orbit per schedule after months of in-orbit raising and successful in-orbit testing and is ready to serve customers across Americas, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean.
OCTOBER - SES-17 was successfully launched into space onboard an Ariane 5 launcher operated by Arianespace from the Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 11:10 pm local time (02:10 am UTC).
Arrival at launch site
SEPTEMBER - SES-17 has arrived to Arianespace’s Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.
Shipped to location
SEPTEMBER - SES-17 has been shipped from Thales Alenia Space facility in Cannes, France.
Scheduled to launch
SEPTEMBER - SES-17 is scheduled to be launched by Arianespace, using an Ariane 5 vehicle on 22 October 2021.
AUGUST - The antennas are tested in an anechoic chamber, which simulates the environment in outer space. This test not only measures the performance of the antennas themselves, it also ensures that there will be no interference from any of the many other components and systems.
Satellite Vibration Test
JULY - Satellite Vibration Test. During launch the satellite will be subject to extreme vibration and high levels of acoustic noise, both of which could potentially damage or impair components. It is therefore essential that the satellite undergoes similar vibration and acoustic testing prior to launch. The vibration test simulates every type of vibration that the SES-17 may encounter on its journey to its orbital location.
Thermal Vacuum test completed
APRIL - SES-17 left the TVAC chamber where it successfully completed all testing.
Thermal Vacuum test commenced
FEBRUARY - During this phase the satellite is in a vacuum and subjected to extremes of temperature such as may be encountered during its lifetime in space. The thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) is one of the largest in Europe, but to make SES-17 fit, part of the door had to be carved out.
2020
First solar array deployment test completed
SEPTEMBER - The solar arrays are only a couple of centimetres thick but will need to deal with extreme temperatures varying between +140°C and -200°C. Furled for launch, deploying the solar arrays after separation is a delicate operation that relies on a series of pulleys, hinges, cables and springs all working in perfect synchronisation.
Service and Payload Modules successfully integrated
MAY - This is a major milestone and is one of the last steps in assembling the complete satellite.
2017
Arianespace to launch SES-17
Weighing over six metric tons, SES-17 will be one of the 10 largest satellites ever launched by Arianespace. It will also be the third all-electric satellite that Arianespace has launched for SES.
SES-17 will provide connectivity services tailor-made for commercial aviation over the Americas to FlytLIVE by Thales. Passengers will be able to experience high-speed WiFi in the air as they do at home.
EuroSkyPark (ESP), a European connectivity provider, is leading the push to make Germany reliant on renewable energy. Wind and solar power are heavily backed in countries like Germany, which has mandated to make renewable energy the main power source by 2050. Yet, for green energy to be truly sustainable, it needs unwavering connectivity.
