SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR), and a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, announced today the advanced high throughput satellite built for Telesat, a leading global satellite operator, is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The SSL-built satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida early Sunday morning. It began firing its main thruster earlier today to propel toward its final geostationary orbit.
Telstar 19 VANTAGE packs exceptional performance onto a single spacecraft with multiple payloads that provide high-speed internet service to populations in both North and South America. It is the latest in a new generation of satellites for Telesat that combine broad regional beams and powerful spot beams in a design optimized to deliver fast and reliable service for bandwidth-intensive applications that power the new space economy.
“I would like to thank our long term colleagues at Telesat for their continued confidence in SSL and for our close collaborative working relationship that always results in superior performance and value,” said Dario Zamarian, Group President of SSL. “Telstar 19 VANTAGE represents an important milestone for SSL as our 50th communications satellite to launch this decade, and it also underscores our success in providing exceptional high throughput capacity for targeted regions of the world.”
When it reaches its orbital slot at 63 degrees West longitude, the satellite will provide service in Northern Canada, South America, the Caribbean, and the North Atlantic. Its unique design maximizes throughput and spectral efficiency and optimizes network performance for Telesat’s customers. SSL incorporated multiple technical advances into Telstar 19 VANTAGE including 3D printing which helps to reduce mass and enables better design solutions.
“SSL has been a valued partner to Telesat for many years and we congratulate them on achieving 50-built GEO satellites since 2010 and on their technology advances that drive our industry forward,” said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO, Telesat. “We’re pleased that Telstar 19 VANTAGE is now heading toward its orbital slot at 63 degrees West and that Telesat will soon be providing high performing capacity on our newest satellite to Hughes in South America, to Bell Canada subsidiary Northwestel over Northern Canada, and to our customers across the Americas and Atlantic who require the very latest in satellite broadband.”
Telstar 19 VANTAGE is based on the powerful SSL 1300 platform, which provides flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances. Telesat’s newest satellite is designed for 15 or more years of service and will be co-located with Telesat’s Telstar 14R.
SSL is also building Telstar 18 VANTAGE for Telesat, which is scheduled to launch next month to 138 degrees East. The third Telstar VANTAGE satellite in Telesat’s global fleet, it will combine broad regional beams with powerful HTS spot beams to bring a new level of broadband performance for customers across the Asia Pacific region.
A video showing the satellite under construction can be viewed here.
About Telesat
Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 16 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one Phase 1 LEO satellite which is the start of Telesat’s planned global LEO satellite constellation that will offer low latency, high throughput broadband services. An additional GEO satellite is scheduled for launch next month. Telesat is also a leading technical consultant providing high value expertise and support to satellite operators, insurers and other industry participants on a global basis. Privately held, Telesat’s principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).
About SSL
SSL, based in Palo Alto, California, is a leading provider of advanced spacecraft systems, with broad expertise to support commercial and government satellite operators and innovative space missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband internet, mobile communications, in-orbit servicing, space exploration, and Earth observation. As a Silicon Valley innovator for 60 years, SSL’s advanced product line includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and autonomous solutions for remote operations. SSL is a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE: MAXR; TSX: MAXR). For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.
About Maxar Technologies
As a global leader of advanced space technology solutions, Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates) is at the nexus of the new space economy, developing and sustaining the infrastructure and delivering the information, services, systems that unlock the promise of space for commercial and government markets. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides vertically-integrated capabilities and expertise including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and analytics to help customers anticipate and address their most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in over 30 global locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes MDA, SSL, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions. Every day, billions of people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.
