Boeing has announced that it has completed the Boeing 702SP (Small Platform) satellites, which are the first all-electric propulsion satellites in the world that can be stacked and launched together.
The two joined satellites were manufactured for customers ABS and Eutelsat and will be launched in February 2015.
The design for the Boeing 702SP (Small Platform) was introduced in 2012 as an evolution of the Boeing 702 satellite and a blend of proven technology from Boeing’s previous designs with next-generation technology and processes.
According to the company’s press release, these small platform satellites are affordable and lightweight and offer many efficient options for satellite movement, while their next-generation avionics architecture simplifies operations and provides improved access to data for evaluation of the spacecraft’s health.
“We are the first aerospace company to develop this highly efficient and flexible all-electric satellite, and we completed the first two 702SPs less than three years after contract award,” said Mark Spiwak, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International.
“With more than 210,000 hours of on-orbit experience with electric propulsion, we recognised that this highly efficient, lighter weight propulsion system would translate into cost savings for our customers.”
The ABS-3A satellite for Bermuda-based ABS and the EUTELSAT 115 West B satellite for Paris-based Eutelsat will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
For more information, please go to www.boeing.com
