KA-SAT
{{short description|Communications satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = KA-SAT
| image = KA-SAT artist view.png
| image_caption = Artist rendering of the KA-SAT satellite
| mission_type = Communication
| operator = Viasat
| website =
| COSPAR_ID =
| SATCAT =
| mission_duration =
| spacecraft_bus = Eurostar E3000
| manufacturer = EADS Astrium
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|6150|kg|lbs}}
| power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|26 December 2010}}
| launch_rocket = Proton-M/Briz-M
| launch_site = Baikonur 200/39
| launch_contractor = ILS{{cite web |url=http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/pdf/KA-SAT%20Mission%20Overview%20final.pdf |title=KA-SAT Mission Overview |publisher=International Launch Services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102112149/http://ilslaunch.com/assets/pdf/KA-SAT%20Mission%20Overview%20final.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}
| entered_service =
| disposal_type =
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| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Geostationary
| orbit_periapsis =
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| apsis = gee
| trans_band =
| trans_frequency =
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| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage =
| trans_TWTA =
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| trans_HPBW =
}}
KA-SAT is a high-throughput geostationary telecommunications satellite owned by Viasat. The satellite provides bidirectional broadband Internet access services across Europe and a small area of the Middle East, and additionally the Saorsat TV service to Ireland. It is positioned at 9°E,{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-12/27/c_13666427.htm|title=Russia puts European satellite into orbit|date=27 December 2010|author=Yang Lina|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230132647/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-12/27/c_13666427.htm|archive-date=30 December 2010}} joining the Eurobird 9A Ku band satellite. KA-SAT was manufactured by EADS Astrium, based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, with a total weight of 6 tons. It was launched by Proton in December 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12065466|title=Ka-Sat net-dedicated spacecraft lifts off|author=Jonathan Amos|publisher=BBC News|date=26 December 2010}} The satellite is named after the Ka band frequency, which is used on the spacecraft.
In November 2020, Viasat purchased Eutelsat's share of Euro Broadband Infrastructure (EBI) for $166 million (140 million euro), giving Viasat total ownership of the KA-SAT satellite and related ground infrastructure. The purchase was completed on April 30, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Jewett |first1=Rachel |title=Viasat Completes Purchase of Euro Broadband Infrastructure |url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/broadband/2021/04/30/viasat-completes-purchase-of-euro-broadband-infrastructure/ |date=April 30, 2021}}
Spacecraft
The spacecraft is equipped with four multi-feed deployable antennas with enhanced pointing accuracy and a high-efficiency repeater.{{cite report|chapter=Ka-Band Satellite Consumer Triple-Play and Professional Video Services |first1=Guillaume |last1=Benoit|first2=Hector |last2=Fenech|first3=Stefano |last3=Pezzana |first4=Alessia |last4=Tomatis |title=Personal Satellite Services |series=Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering |year=2010 |volume=43 |pages=74–85 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-13618-4_6 |isbn=978-3-642-13617-7 |chapter-url=https://eudl.eu/pdf/10.1007/978-3-642-13618-4_6|access-date=December 11, 2022}} It is configured with 82 spotbeams. Each spotbeam is associated with a 237 MHz wide transponder, allowing a data bit rate throughput of 475 Mbit/s per spot.
The spacecraft power is about 14 kW and the payload DC power is 11 kW. The solar array power provides up to 16 kW.
The payload mass is about 1000 kg, the dry mass is about 3170 kg, the launch mass was 6100 kg.
The manoeuvre lifetime in orbit is estimated to 16 years.
Broadband Internet access service
KA-SAT features a high level of frequency reuse enabling the system to achieve a total capacity of more than 90 Gbit/s.{{cite press release|title=Eutelsat to Drive Satellite Broadband to New Frontiers with First Full Ka-Band Satellite Infrastructure|url=http://www.eutelsat.com/news/compress/en/2008/pdf/PR0108-KaSat.pdf|publisher=Eutelsat|date=7 January 2008|access-date=29 May 2009}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.eutelsat.com/en/satellites/the-fleet/EUTELSAT-KA-SAT-characteristics.html |title=EUTELSAT KA-SAT - characteristics - Eutelsat |access-date=2013-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112063718/http://www.eutelsat.com/en/satellites/the-fleet/EUTELSAT-KA-SAT-characteristics.html |archive-date=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead }}
Image:KA-SAT spot beams coverage.jpg
The satellite operates in conjunction with ten terrestrial teleports (two of them as a backup) providing Internet gateway services, parts of the Eutelsat's Tooway service, all of them linked by the "KA-SAT ring", a terrestrial telecommunication high-speed network. The service is centrally operated from Skylogic's NOC based in Torino (Italy) (Skylogic is a subsidiary of Eutelsat).
=Communication systems=
The data communications used on the KA-SAT satellite are transmitted to and from equipment manufactured by ViaSat:
- in the Eutelsat's teleports (Internet gateways), the ViaSat "SurfBeam 2" hub system;
- at the customer site, the ViaSat "SurfBeam 2" modem as a customer-premises equipment.
"SurfBeam 2" is a modified version of the DOCSIS protocol adapted by ViaSat Inc. for the satellite physical link.
Satellite television
KA-SAT carries the Irish Saorsat[https://saorsat.ie/#how How to get] Saorsat Official Website TV service accessed using a KA-Band feedhorn LNBF, for areas in Ireland where Irish Digital Terrestrial TV (Saorview) is inaccessible.{{cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Satellite giant Viasat probes suspected broadband cyberattack amid Russia fears |url=https://news.sky.com/story/satellite-giant-viasat-probes-suspected-broadband-cyberattack-amid-russia-fears-12554004 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=SkyNews}}
Outages
Since 24 February 2022, about the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ViaSat Internet service has suffered disruptions over some parts of Europe.{{Cite web |title=Satellite giant Viasat probes suspected broadband cyberattack amid Russia fears |url=https://news.sky.com/story/satellite-giant-viasat-probes-suspected-broadband-cyberattack-amid-russia-fears-12554004 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{cite web |date=26 February 2022 |title=Viasat's Ka-SAT experiencing service interruptions |url=https://paxex.aero/viasat-kasat-outage-europe/}}
According to Michel Friedling, Commander of the French Space Command, and Viasat itself, the disruptions were caused by a cyberattack.{{cite AV media | people = Michel Friedling | title = Point Presse du ministère des Armées du jeudi 3 mars 2022 | medium = Video | publisher = YouTube | location = France | date = 2022-03-03 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAmfuydWqXU&t=3295s}}{{cite web |title=Hackers attack Viasat satellite network in Eastern Europe |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/article-700526 |website=The Jerusalem Post |publisher=Jerusalem Post Group |date = 2022-03-07 |access-date=10 March 2022}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Commons category|KA-SAT}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101230143214/http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/9e_ka-sat.html Eutelsat page for KA-SAT]
{{Eutelsat}}
{{Orbital launches in 2010}}
Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2010
Category:High throughput satellites