Boeing Satellite Systems International of El Segundo, California, has completed construction of the last of three Mexsat satellites ordered by the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation in 2010 for mobile and other services, Boeing announced June 9.
The large L-band Morelos-3 satellite, a Boeing 702HP platform, has been placed in storage pending a launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. That launch, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, could take place as early as 2015.
Morelos-3 joins the similar L-band Centenario satellite, which Boeing completed in November, in storage. That satellite was scheduled for launch aboard an International Launch Services Proton rocket in 2014, but the manifest for that Russian-built vehicle is uncertain following a failure in May.
A third satellite in the Mexsat system, built by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Virginia, under subcontract to Boeing, was launched in December 2012. That craft provides C- and Ku-band services.
Boeing’s three-satellite Mexsat contract, including the ground stations, is valued at about $1 billion. Once fully operational, the Mexsat system will provide mobile as well as fixed satellite services for Mexican government agencies.
