MSAT (Mobile Satellite) is a
satellite
A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...
-based
mobile telephony
Mobile telephony is the provision of wireless telephone services to mobile phones, distinguishing it from fixed-location telephony provided via landline phones. Traditionally, telephony specifically refers to voice communication, though th ...
service developed by the
National Research Council Canada
The National Research Council Canada (NRC; ) is the primary national agency of the Government of Canada dedicated to science and technology research and development. It is the largest federal research and development organization in Canada.
Th ...
(NRC). 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, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...
) 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 S ...
) 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
Cape Canaveral () is a cape (geography), cape in Brevard County, Florida, in the United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. Officially Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated ...
, 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 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 a ...
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, th ...
, 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 S ...
, then after bankruptcy
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 S ...
) 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 products help customers track, monitor and control industrial vehicles, vessels and industrial equipme ...
* Trailer Tracking - by
SkyBitz
* EMERGNET - by
Glentel
Glentel Inc. is a Canadian telecommunications retailer based in Burnaby, British Columbia, jointly owned by BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications.
In Canada, the company operates over 350 wireless outlets under the Tbooth Wireless (La cabine T sa ...
See also
*
Mobile-satellite service
Mobile-satellite service (MSS, or mobile-satellite radiocommunication service) is – according to Article 1.25 of the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations
– "A radiocommunication service
* between mobile earth stations and ...
*
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to other phones or the telephone network by radio link through satellites orbiting the Earth instead of terrestrial cell sites, as cellphones do. Therefo ...
References
External links
Mobile Satellite Ventures
Mobile Satellite Systems
{{Canadian Space Agency
Communications satellites
Global Positioning System