MSAT, short for ''Mobile Satellite'', is a

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope ...

-based

mobile telephony Mobile telephony is the provision of telephone services to phones which may move around freely rather than stay fixed in one location. Telephony is supposed to specifically point to a voice-only service or connection, though sometimes the li ...

service developed by the

National Research Council of Canada The National Research Council Canada (NRC; french: Conseil national de recherches Canada) is the primary national agency of the Government of Canada dedicated to science and technology research & development. It is the largest federal research ...

. Supported by a number of companies in the US and Canada, MSAT hosts a number of services, including the broadcast of CDGPS signals. The MSAT satellites were built by Hughes (now owned by

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product ...

) with a 3 kilowatt solar array power capacity and sufficient fuel for a design life of twelve years. TMI Communications of Canada referred to its MSAT satellite as MSAT-1, while American Mobile Satellite Consortium (now

Ligado Networks Ligado Networks, formerly known as LightSquared, is an American satellite communications company. After restructuring, emerging from bankruptcy and modifying its network plan, the new company, Ligado Networks, launched in 2016. It operates the Sk ...

) referred to its MSAT as AMSC-1, with each satellite providing backup for the other.

History

* April 7, 1995 - MSAT-2 (a.k.a. AMSC-1, COSPAR 1995-019A, SATCAT 23553) launched from

Cape Canaveral , image = cape canaveral.jpg , image_size = 300 , caption = View of Cape Canaveral from space in 1991 , map = Florida#USA , map_width = 300 , type =Cape , map_caption = Location in Florida , location ...

, Launch Complex 36, Pad A, aboard Atlas IIA * May 1995 - testing causes overheating and damage to one of eight hybrid matrix amplifier output ports aboard MSAT-2 * April 20, 1996 - MSAT-1 (sometimes AMSC 2, COSPAR 1996-022A, SATCAT 23846) launched from

Kourou, French Guiana Kourou () is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Kourou is famous for being the location of the Guiana Space Centre, the main spaceport of France and the European Space Agency (ESA). It is ...

aboard Ariane 42P * May 15, 1996 - Reported failures of two solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs) and one L-band receiver on separate occasions aboard MSAT-2. * May 4, 2003 - MSAT-1 loses two power amplifiers.

Phaseout

MSAT-1 and MSAT-2 have had their share of problems. Mobile Satellite Ventures placed the AMSC-1 satellite into a 2.5 degree

inclined orbit A satellite is said to occupy an inclined orbit around Earth if the orbit exhibits an angle other than 0° to the equatorial plane. This angle is called the orbit's inclination. A planet is said to have an inclined orbit around the Sun if it has an ...

operations mode in November 2004, reducing station-keeping fuel usage and extending the satellite's useful life. On January 11, 2006, Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSVLP) (changed name to

SkyTerra SkyTerra (SKYT), formerly Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV or MSVLP), was a Reston, Virginia company that developed telecommunications systems that integrate satellite and terrestrial radio communication technologies into one system. In March 2010, t ...

, then became by acquisition

LightSquared Ligado Networks, formerly known as LightSquared, is an American satellite communications company. After restructuring, emerging from bankruptcy and modifying its network plan, the new company, Ligado Networks, launched in 2016. It operates the Sk ...

, then after bankruptcy

) announced plans to launch a new generation of satellites (in a 3 satellite configuration) to replace the MSAT satellites by 2010. MSV has said that all old MSAT gear would be compatible with the new satellites. * MSV-1 (U.S.) * MSV-2 (Canada) * MSV-SA (South America)

Services Delivered via MSAT

The following services are singularly dependent upon the continued operation of the MSAT satellite: * CDGPS - a differential correction signal system for improved GPS navigation accuracy * Trailer Tracking - by

SkyWave Mobile Communications SkyWave Mobile Communications is a global provider of satellite and satellite-cellular devices in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) market. SkyWave's products allow customers to track, monitor and control industrial vehicles, vessels and industrial e ...

* Trailer Tracking - by SkyBitz * EMERGNET - by

Glentel Glentel is a Canadian retail firm. Based in Burnaby, the company deals primarily as a retailer of mobile phone services. In Canada, the company operates over 350 wireless outlets under the Tbooth Wireless (La cabine T sans-fil in Quebec, formerly ...

References

External links

Mobile Satellite Ventures

Mobile Satellite Systems
{{Canadian Space Agency Communications satellites Global Positioning System

History

Phaseout

Services Delivered via MSAT

See also

References

External links