Jupiter-3 EchoStar, the world’s heaviest commercial communications satellite, is operating as expected after placing solar panels and antennas in geostationary orbit. Maxar Technologies built a nine-ton Ka-band satellite and supplied solar panels for it. L3Harris Technologies has manufactured antennas for Jupiter 3. The satellite, which entered geostationary orbit on July 28 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket, reached 95 degrees West at an altitude of 35,786 kilometers.
Deployed antennas
L3Harris announced the successful deployment of four large Jupiter-3 reflector antennas on November 20.
“The L3Harris-built reflectors aboard the Jupiter-3 communications satellite are based on materials and configurations used on similar communications satellites – using flight-proven materials and assemblies,” Colin Mitchell, vice president and general manager of L3Harris RF Systems, told SpaceNews via email. “The reflectors on board Jupiter 3 offer proven design and assembly processes, just like the other large reflectors manufactured at our Florida plant.”
Nevertheless, it remains challenging to design and configure antennas for ultra-high-bandwidth communications satellites that fit into standard launch fairings. To achieve this goal, L3Harris relies on advanced technology and sophisticated packaging techniques, Mitchell said.
Testing the ground system
With the Hughes Network Systems antennas deployed, Echostar is testing Jupiter-3’s ability to communicate with ground systems. Once testing is complete, Jupiter-3 is expected to deliver more than 500 gigabits per second of broadband to Hughesnet customers, including airlines, corporations, governments and consumers in the Americas.
Hughes expects Jupiter-3 to enter service by the end of the year.
“As the largest commercial satellite ever built, Jupiter-3 will double the capacity of our fleet, serving more customers who live outside the reach of cable and fiber optic Internet, enabling ubiquitous connectivity across the Americas,” said Echostar CEO Hamid Akhavan in a statement.
