ArabSat-6A Satellite launched on a SpaceX’ Falcon Heavy rocket
ArabSat-6A Satellite launched on a SpaceX’ Falcon Heavy rocket
ArabSat and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) announced in April 2015 the orders for two communications satellites, ArabSat-6A for ArabSat and Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 for Hellas-Sat satellite operator from Greece.
ArabSat-6A, located at 30.5° East was designed for a 15-year service life, and will be manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Denver, Colorado USA. The satellite will be built on a modernized version of Lockheed Martin’s A2100 bus, which builds on that flight-proven design with advanced innovations including propulsion, solar arrays and electronics.
SpaceX launch operator successfully launched the ArabSat-6A Satellite on April 11th 2019, by a Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA.
ArabSat-6A is a high-capacity telecommunications satellite that will deliver television, radio, Internet and mobile communications to customers in the Middle-East, Africa, and Europe. The spacecraft is the largest and most powerful commercial satellite Lockheed martin has ever produced. ArabSat-6A provides advanced Ka-spot Beam communications services and Ku- and Ka-band coverages in addition to other frequency bands.
The Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) is a leading communications satellite operator in the Arab World, headquartered in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Arabsat owns and operates 7 satellites, at 3 orbital positions, 20°, 26°, 30.5° East: Arabsat-5C (20°E), BADR-4, BADR-5, BADR-6 and BADR-7 (26°E), Arabsat-5A and Arabsat-6A (30.5°E).
The Company was created to deliver satellite-based, public and private telecommunications services to the Arab States, in accordance with International Standards. With more than 20 member countries, the organization plays a vital role of enhancing communications in the Arab World.
The Arabsat satellites are a series of geostationary communications satellites launched from 1985 through 2011. Some of the later satellites in the series remain operational in orbit, while others have been retired and are derelict.
The establishment of Arab Satellite Communications Organization goes back to the end of the 1960’s. In 1967, information ministers of Arab states developed a series of principles in relation to a satellite network. The goal of this network was to create an integration among the countries of the Arab League in terms of the social and cultural activities. On the other hand, the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) was founded in 1969. Saudi Arabia did not join this Egypt-led and Cairo-based union until 1974, most probably due to the tense relationship between Saudi Arabia and Egypt at that time.