TerreStar-1, world’s largest commercial satellite, launched
03 Jul 2009
Los Angeles: The world's largest commercial satellite ever, meant for cellphones, was successfully launched Thursday, mobile communications provider TerreStar announced.
Weighing 6,910 kg, TerreStar-1 is designed to allow the convergence of cellphones and satellite phones throughout the United States and Canada, was launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana Tuesday.
The satellite will deliver voice, data and video services to the entire US and Canada region.
Its 20-metre (60 feet across) antennae are large enough to beam satellite signals to mobile phones, which TerreStar hopes to launch later this year. The satellite component will allow users to use voice, email and data communications all over the US, even when there is no cellphone coverage.
This relay platform will provide up to 500 dynamically-configurable spot beams, surpassing current-generation satellites in terms of signal sensitivity and the number of spot beams it can generate.
''With the successful launch of TerreStar-1, we are redefining the mobile communications landscape,'' said Dennis Matheson, chief technology officer of TerreStar. ''We are creating a new paradigm in mobile broadband network services to enable true ubiquity and reliability - anywhere in the United States and Canada.''
