Horizons-1

Horizons-1, also known as Galaxy 13, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Boeing on the BSS-601 platform. It has Ku-band and C-band payload and was used to replace Galaxy 9 at the 127.0° West longitude.[2] It covers North America, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico.[3][4][5][6]

Horizons-1 / Galaxy 13
NamesHorizons-1 / Galaxy 13
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorIntelsat / SKY Perfect JSAT
COSPAR ID2003-044A
SATCAT no.27954
WebsiteIntelsat Page
JSAT Page
Galaxy 13 Page
Mission duration15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftHorizons-1
Spacecraft typeBSS
BusBSS-601
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass4060 kg
Dry mass2630 kg
Dimensions26.2 x 7.0 metre
with solar panels and antennas deployed.
Power9900 watts
Start of mission
Launch date1 October 2003, 04:03:07 UTC [1]
RocketZenit-3SL
Launch siteOcean Odyssey
Pacific Ocean
ContractorSea Launch
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude127.0° West
Transponders
BandKu-band: 24 (+ 8 spares)
C-band: 24 (+ 8 spares)
Frequency36 MHz
Bandwidth1728 MHz
Coverage areaNorth America, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico
TWTA powerKu-band, 108 watts
C-band, 40 watts
 

Satellite description

The spacecraft was designed and manufactured by Boeing on the BSS-601 satellite bus. It had a launch mass of 4,060 kilograms (8,950 lb) and a mass of 2,630 kilograms (5,800 lb) at the beginning of its 15-year design life. When stowed for launch, it measured 5.7 metres (19 ft) of height and 2.7 by 3.6 metres (8 ft 10 in × 11 ft 10 in) on its sides. Its solar panels span 26.2 metres (86 ft) when fully deployed and, with its antennas in fully extended configuration it is 7.0 metres (23.0 ft) wide.[7]

It had two wings with four solar panels each that used dual-junction GsAs solar cells. Its power system generated 9.9 kW of power at beginning of life and 8.9 kW at the end of its design life and had a 30-cell NiH battery for surviving solar eclipse.[7]

Its propulsion system was composed of an R-4D-11-300 LAE with a thrust of 490 newtons (110 lbf). It also used had twelve 22 newtons (4.9 lbf) bipropellant thrusters for station keeping and attitude control. For North-South stationkeeping, its primary method was an electric propulsion system with four XIPS 13, with four of the chemical thrusters acting as backup. It included enough propellant for orbit circularization and 15 years of operation.[5][7]

It had two 2.7 metres (107 in) Gregorian antennas and 1.3 metres (50 in) two gridded shaped antennas.[7]

Its Ku-band payload is composed of twenty four active plus eight spares 36 MHz transponders powered by TWTA with an output power of 108 watts. It covers North America, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico and is known as Horizons-1.[5][7][8][9][10]

The C-band payload had another twenty four plus eight spares 36 MHz transponders powered by 40 watts TWTA. It covers North America, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico and is known as Galaxy 13, which was used to replace Galaxy 9.[7][11][12]

History

Horizons Satellite was originally an equal share joint venture with PanAmSat. On 4 September 2001, it ordered from Boeing its first satellite, Horizons-1 / Galaxy 13.[2] It was a 4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb) spacecraft with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. It had a 10 kW power generation capacity and 15 years of expected life.[7] On the same day of the satellite order, Boeing disclosed that it had received a parallel contract from PanAmSat, where the latter had exercised an existing option to launch Horizons-1 from its Sea Launch subsidiary.[13]

It was successfully launched on 1 October 2003 at 04:03:07 UTC, aboard a Zenit-3SL rocket from the Ocean Odyssey platform stationed at the 154.0° West over the Equator in the Pacific Ocean.[4][14]

In late 2005, PanAmSat was taken over by Intelsat who continued the joint venture.

References
  1. "Horizons 1". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Boeing to Build New Satellite for PanAmSat, JSAT Joint Venture". Boeing. 4 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 November 2001. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. "Horizons 1". Satbeams. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  4. Krebs, Gunter Dirk (28 August 2016). "Galaxy 13 / Horizons 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. "Horizons-1". SKY Perfect JSAT. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. "Satellite Fleet JSAT". SKY Perfect JSAT. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  7. "Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1". Boeing Satellite Development Center. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. "Horizons 1 at 127° W". Intelsat. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  9. "Who we are" (PDF). SKY Perfect JSAT. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  10. "Horizons 1". PanAmSat. Archived from the original on 12 March 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  11. "Galaxy 13". PanAmSat. Archived from the original on 12 March 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  12. "Galaxy 13 at 127° W". Intelsat. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  13. "PanAmSat Exercises Launch Option with Sea Launch". Boeing. 4 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 November 2001. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  14. "The Successful Launch of Horizons-1". SKY Perfect JSAT. Archived from the original on 26 April 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
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