ABS-2A is an all-electric propulsion commercial communications satellite which is owned and operated by ABS. Co-located with ABS-2 at the 75°E orbital position, the satellite provides coverage over markets in South East Asia, Africa, MENA and Russia. The satellite is equipped with 48 Ku-band transponder and is designed for DTH services, cellular backhaul, VSAT, maritime and mobility solutions.

ABS-2A
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorABS
COSPAR ID2016-0038A
SATCAT no.41588
Mission duration15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
BusBoeing 702SP
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass4,972 pounds (2,255 kg)
Dry mass4,266 pounds (1,935 kg)
Power>13.3kW at 15 years
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 15, 2016, 15:05:00 (2016-06-15UTC15:05Z) UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Full Thrust
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude75° East
Transponders
Band48 Ku band
Frequency13.750-14.800, 17.300-18.100 / 10.950-11.200, 11.450-12.750 (Ku band)
Bandwidth54 MHz, 72 MHz, 108 MHz
TWTA power150 watts (Ku band)

Manufacture and specifications

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The satellite was designed and manufactured by Boeing, and is a Boeing 702SP model communication satellite.[1] It was launched on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 15 June 2016.[2]  The satellite lifted off as part of a dual launch and was the second deployment at 11:05am EDT.  

The satellite is propelled solely by electrically powered spacecraft xenon propulsion, with the on-board thrusters used for both geostationary orbit insertion and station keeping.

The satellite utilizes five Ku-band beams and covers South East Asia, Africa, MENA and Russia.[3]

Launch

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The launch occurred on 15 June 2016 at 11.05am EDT and the satellite was deployed in the planned supersynchronous transfer orbit at 11:40am EDT.[4]

On-orbit operations

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The satellite became fully operational as a geosynchronous communications satellite on 21 January 2017 after orbit raising and in-orbit tests by Boeing and a handover from Boeing to ABS for on-orbit operations.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Boeing 702SP Backgrounder" (PDF). Boeing: 1–2. May 2015 – via Boeing.com.
  2. ^ "Eutelsat America's all-electric satellite enters service after seven-month journey". SpaceNews. 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  3. ^ Guest, A. B. S. (2016-07-16). "ABS-2A 75°E | ABS Global Ltd". Retrieved 2022-07-04.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "SpaceX successfully launches 2nd pair of Eutelsat and ABS all-electric satellites". SpaceNews. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  5. ^ "Boeing-built ABS-2A 702 satellite enters service over Indian Ocean | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.