Harris Corporation Antenna Reflector for TerreStar Communications Satellite Successfully Deployed
September 28 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Largest Reflector Ever Launched for Commercial Application Will
Bring Satellite Communications Directly to Mobile Users in North
America MELBOURNE, Fla., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- An
18-meter antenna reflector built by Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS)
for the geosynchronous TerreStar (NASDAQ:TSTR) global
communications satellite was successfully deployed on orbit on July
12, 2009. The large size of the reflector, compared to more
traditional 9- or 12-meter designs, will help to ensure broad
coverage and 24/7 delivery of mobile voice, data and video services
directly to mobile devices and vehicles in the continental U.S. and
Canada, as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Harris, an
international communications and information technology company,
provided the reflector and the onboard articulating boom to Space
Systems/Loral, which designed and built the TerreStar-1 satellite
for TerreStar Networks Inc. The Harris reflector features a unique
design that allows it to be stowed in a smaller space, while still
providing increased antenna gain and the improved performance
levels required for mobile, interactive media services. The
TerreStar-1 satellite features an innovative, S-band payload that
enables delivery of two-way mobile voice, data and video services
directly to conventionally sized mobile terminals. The Harris
antenna reflector makes it possible for the TerreStar-1 satellite
to focus the 2 GHz S-band signals on the United States and Canada
in order to provide these Mobile Satellite Services (MSS). The
S-band antenna and payload are part of a hybrid infrastructure that
combines an all-IP satellite and smartphone technology with
terrestrial networks. The reflector features a gold-plated mesh
reflective surface and a unique design that maximizes antenna gain
while reducing stowed volume and antenna mass. During the
satellite's launch by Arianespace from French Guiana on July 1, the
Harris reflector was stowed onboard much like an umbrella. Once on
orbit, Space Systems/Loral controllers executed a series of
maneuvers, and sent the commands to deploy the articulating boom
and then unfurl the reflector. On orbit tests have confirmed that
the reflector is fully deployed in its intended position. Harris
has over 30 years of heritage designing, building and flying
deployable mesh reflectors for government and commercial
applications. With over 40 reflectors in orbit, Harris is the
dominant supplier of large reflector apertures and deployable mesh
reflector-feed antenna systems, from L-Band through K-Band, for all
orbital regimes. Harris reflector products have the highest surface
accuracy and most mass efficient design in the industry, while
substantially exceeding the specified mean mission duration of the
spacecraft and payload. "The successful deployment of this large
reflector enables TerreStar to deliver today's most advanced
communications services over a very large area using a single
satellite instead of the constellation of satellites required in
the past," said Dan Pearson, group president, Harris Government
Communications Systems. "The antenna is meeting or exceeding all
established performance metrics. This successful deployment will
usher in a new era of mobile multimedia services and smartphone
communications for U.S. and Canadian consumers. We are very pleased
to be part of the Loral/TerreStar team in delivering these
next-generation satellite services." About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information
technology company serving government and commercial markets
worldwide. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and more than 15,000
employees -- including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists.
Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured
communications® products, systems, and services. Additional
information about Harris Corporation is available at
http://www.harris.com/. DATASOURCE: Harris Corporation CONTACT:
Sleighton Meyer of Harris Government Communications Systems,
+1-321-727-6514, , or Jim Burke of Harris Corporation,
+1-321-727-9131, , or Marc Raimondi of Harris Corporation -
Washington, D.C., +1-202-729-3732, Web Site: http://www.harris.com/
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