Intelsat-901 (IS-901) at 332.5° East (Ext. Lifespan with MEV-1)
| Position: | 332.5° East |
| Manufacturer: | Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) |
| Operator: | Intelsat |
| Launch operator: | Arianespace |
| Launch vehicle: | Ariane 44LP |
| Launch date: | 06/11/2001 |
| Expected lifetime: | 17+5 Years |
Nine Intelsat-9 satellites, improved and more powerful versions of its nine Intelsat-7/7A spacecraft, were built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). They replaced the Intelsat-6 satellites, to provide enhanced voice, video and data transmission services across the globe.
The contract called for SS/L to design, build, and deliver the spacecraft to the launch site in the years 2000 and 2001 and contains options for one additional satellite. The increased power and efficiency of the new Intelsat-9 satellites provided better coverage and stronger signals to help satisfy the burgeoning global appetite for digital services, smaller earth stations, and specialized Intelsat communications services. These spacecrafts serviced the Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions.
The new satellites each carried 44 transponders in the C-band and 12 in the Ku-band, and generate more than 8kW (End of Life). These spacecrafts carry a much greater number of high-power amplifiers and generate more solar array power than their predecessors with only a small increase in dry mass. Major subcontractors include Alcatel Telecom of France, Alenia of Italy (both have been merged to Thales Alenia Space), DASA of Germany and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) from Japan.
Intelsat-901 was successfully launched on June 11th, 2001 on an Ariane 44L rocket, operated by launch operator Arianespace, from the Kourou Space Port in French Guyana.
Intelsat-901 is the first geostationary satellite to receive a five-year life-extension by the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) satellite-servicing mission, operated by Northrop Grumman, Corp, after its retirement. The MEV-1 was launched on October 2019 on a Proton M rocket, operated by launch operator ILS, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome launch site in Kazachstan.
Intelsat-901 returned to service, late October 2019, following the successful docking with the first MEV-1. Before the docking of MEV-1 and Intelsat 901, ground controllers transitioned customers off of Intelsat-901 and moved the satellite to a graveyard orbit in December 2019 so that Eutelsat 5 West B, for satellite operator Eutelsat from France, which launched with MEV-1, could use its orbital slot. Intelsat-901 was moved to 27.5° West (332.5° East) orbital slot, where it will remain for five years.
Intelsat-901 (IS-901) at 332.5° East (Ext. Lifespan with MEV-1)
Intelsat-901 (IS-901) at 332.5° East (Ext. Lifespan with MEV-1)
Fact Sheet Intelsat 901 satelliteArianespace Launchkit Intelsat-901ILS Launchkit MEV-1 for Life-Extension IS-901Intelsat-901 (IS-901) at 332.5° East (Ext. Lifespan with MEV-1)
