EchoStar XXI (formerly known as TerreStar 2
) is a European
communications satellite which is operated by
Echostar Corporation. It was constructed by
Space Systems/Loral, based on the
SSL 1300 satellite bus, and carries
S band
The S band is a designation by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for a part of the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum covering frequencies from 2 to 4 gigahertz (GHz). Thus it crosses the convention ...
transponders which will be used to provide 2 GHz mobile connectivity throughout Europe.
EchoStar XXI was launched at 03:45 UTC on June 8, 2017
from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome ( kk, Байқоңыр ғарыш айлағы, translit=Baiqoñyr ğaryş ailağy, ; russian: Космодром Байконур, translit=Kosmodrom Baykonur, ) is a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to R ...
in
Kazakhstan. This satellite was the heaviest commercial payload flown aboard a Russian booster at the time of its launch.
Before being launched, the satellite was known as TerreStar-2, a ground spare for
TerreStar Networks' satellite-terrestrial telephone network.
References
External links
Echostar CorporationLaunch video at Spaceflight NowNASA Spaceflight thread for EchoStar XXI LaunchYouTube video (Russian language) of the rocket rolling to the pad
Spacecraft launched in 2017
High throughput satellites
Communications satellites in geostationary orbit
Spacecraft launched by Proton rockets
E21
{{Communications-satellite-stub