GEO Satellites

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GEO Satellite

Inmarsat-6 F1 (Inmarsat GX6A, I-6 F1) GEO

succesfull


Launch date

22 December 2021

Position

84° East

Manufacturer

Airbus Defense & Space

Operator

Inmarsat

Launch operator

MHI Launch Services

Launch vehicle

H-IIA

Expected lifetime

15+ Years

Regions

Asia Pacific Region
North & Central Africa Region
Oceania Region
South Africa Region

In 2015 satellite operator Inmarsat ordered two 6th generation I-6 satellites with Airbus Defense & Space. At the time, the two-satellite contract was valued at around 600 million USD. I-6 F1 satellite is Inmarsat’s first hybrid satellite, featuring both L-band and Ka-band communications payloads. The L-band payload will support the ELERA network for mobile IoT users. The Ka-band payload will support the Global Xpress network for government mobility customers. I-6 F1’s communications payload will provide access to markets in Asia, Africa, and Australia.

The I-6 satellites will be part of the GEO-component of Inmarsat’s multi-orbit network, ORCHESTRA, that will combine assets in GEO, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) and 5G into one mobility solution.

The 5,470kgs weighing I-6F1 is the first of two Inmarsat-6 (I-6) satellites that was launched on December 22nd, 2021, from the JAXA Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan on a H-IIA rocket operated by launch operator MHI Launch Services, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Inmarsat recently was acquired by satellite operator ViaSat. Both companies are currently being consolidated.

GEO Satellite

Inmarsat-6 F1 (Inmarsat GX6A, I-6 F1)

succesfull


Inmarsat-6-F1 satellite under construction at Airbus
Inmarsat-6F1 Packed for transportation
H-IIA launch with I-6 F1 satellite
MHI Launch services launching I-6 F1 satellite

GEO Satellite

Inmarsat-6 F1 (Inmarsat GX6A, I-6 F1)

succesfull


GEO Satellite

Inmarsat-6 F1 (Inmarsat GX6A, I-6 F1)

succesfull