Amazonas Nexus (IS-46) at 61° West
| Position: | 61° West |
| Manufacturer: | Thales Alenia Space |
| Operators: | Hispasat |
| Intelsat | |
| Launch operator: | SpaceX |
| Launch vehicle: | Falcon 9 |
| Launch date: | 02/05/2023 |
| Expected lifetime: | 15+ Years |
Amazonas Nexus at 61° West
In January 2020 Satellite Operator Hispasat from Spain awarded the order for the construction of their Amazonas Nexus satellite to Thales Alenia Space. The satellite will replace and expand the capacity of Amazonas-2.
The Amazonas Nexus at 61° West new High Throughput Satellite (HTS) will enable Hispasat to access new customers and markets, by delivering high-capacity mobility services to the air and maritime transport sectors and will cover the whole American continent, the Atlantic corridors North and South (air and maritime traffic area) and Greenland.
The Amazonas Nexus satellite marks the start of a new generation of satellites in Hispasat’s fleet with an innovative architecture that also features Ka-band capacity to optimize communications between the gateways and the satellite.
In January 2020 the company awarded satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space the construction of the Amazonas Nexus spacecraft, which will replace and expand the capacities of Amazonas-2 satellite, in orbit at 61º West. The new High Throughput Satellite (HTS) is to be launched in 2022 and will enable Hispasat to access new customers and markets, by delivering high capacity mobility services to the air and maritime transport sectors, among others.
In March 2023 satellite operator Intelsat from USA acquired capacity on the Amazonas Nexus satellite to meet their demand for connectivity over the Americas, Brazil and the North Atlantic Ocean. Intelsat is branding under IS-46.
Amazonas Nexus has a dedicated payload for Greenland to improve internet access in all remote towns and settlements in North- and East-Greenland. National Telco Tele Greenland A/S (Tusass) is marketing the payload as GreenSat-1.
Based on the spacebus NEO platform from Thales Alenia Space, the satellite will feature full electric propulsion, making the satellite lighter and contributing to lower the launch cost. With an estimated lifetime of 15+ years, 20kW satellite power and a mass of 4,500kgs at launch, Amazonas Nexus was successfully launched on February 5th by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket.
Amazonas Nexus (IS-46) at 61° West
