Skip to main content

Main navigation

Satellite flight operations center

Satellite Flight Operations and Engineering

Support From the Time Your Satellite Leaves the Rocket   

Leverage our Experience to Maintain Your Satellite or Fleet

Whether you’re an existing satellite operator looking to reduce operational expenses, or a new satellite operator just getting into the market, SES provides flight operations and engineering services for the entire satellite lifecycle.

Our Satellite Flight Operations and Engineering services are delivered from two geographically diverse operations centers, both manned 24/7/365. Using a combination of dedicated and full motion rover tracking, telemetry, and command antenna systems, SES operates and maintains approximately 90 GEO satellites today from all major manufacturers.

SES’s Flight Operation Services Provide: 

Image
Globe with three surrounding satellites.

Support for Multiple Orbits 

Experience with GEO, MEO, and LEO orbits 

Image
Satellite Commanding icon with side panels.

Flight Control System Creation, Test, and Integration Support 

Automated control systems for all satellite buses reduces operational risk and increases availability 

Image
Person in front of a screen.

Operation Center Redundancy

Two geographically diverse satellite flight operations centers manned 24/7/365 with redundant and diverse data centers  

Image
Icon of bar chart with a line graph overlay

Satellite Efficiency and Performance Improvements 

Performance trending, anomaly resolution, and payload management and configuration 

Image
Document icon with a security shield.

Regulatory Expertise 

Regulatory compliance performed by in-house experts  

Image
Two people with backs against each other.

Emergency TT&C Restoral Resources

60 globally dispersed antenna systems in C-, Ku-, and Ka-bands to support TOSS and TT&C contingency operational requirements 

Image
atellite dish on an industrial conveyor system.

TT&C Antenna Sourcing

Short term lease and licensing of TT&C antenna systems 

Image
Icon of graduation cap on a laptop screen.

Coordinate Support & Training 

Hinder database and coordination support along with satellite operations training 

Image
Satellite reorbiting above a globe.

De-Orbit Support

Drift, relocation, and de-orbit support 

Supporting Your Satellite Through all Phases of the Lifecycle 

Transfer Orbit Support Service  

SES’s Transfer Orbit Support Services (TOSS aka LEOP) support all types of GEO Transfer Orbit missions, including chemical, hybrid, and pure electric propulsion, delivering a smooth and safe transition to your orbital service slot.

SES offers: 

  • Highly experienced satellite operations staff who manage and direct the ground stations during the transfer orbit mission  
  • Support for multiple simultaneous missions while maintaining network availability for overlapping missions 
  • Over 60 ground antenna systems located at 20 globally dispersed ground stations providing coverage in C-, Ku-, Ku BSS, and Ka-bands 
  • High-network availability including dual, and in some cases, triple redundant and diverse network connectivity for every ground station 
  • Around-the-clock antenna availability and ability to switch between antenna locations and/or antenna systems to ensure mission continuity 
  • Hindrance coordination to ensure satellites move and operate with minimal interference to existing operational satellites during the transfer orbit
  • Regulatory support to ensure accurate and timely submissions and to resolve regulatory challenges 

In Orbit Testing

Testing the onboard equipment of your newly launched satellite ensures a healthy life cycle for your spacecraft. 

SES services include:  

  • IOT slot identification, regulatory coordination, and IOT permits filing with adjacent operators, generation and execution of test plan
  • Portable in-orbit testing system that can be easily installed at a customer-designated facility  
  • Optional network-only service with no visibility into IOT data for customer anonymity
  • Automated measurement stations located around the world
  • C-, Ku-, Ku-BSS, Ka-bands and UHF payloads supported