ProtoStar
ProtoStar Ltd was a private company incorporated in Bermuda, with U.S. operations based in San Francisco, California and Asian operations based in Singapore. ProtoStar intended to operate an initial fleet of three geostationary satellites.[1] Two satellites were acquired and launched. ProtoStar's anchor customer, Dish TV India Limited, is the largest direct-to-home television operator in India.[2]
Bankruptcy and auction[edit]
ProtoStar Ltd filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on June 29, 2009.[3]
ProtoStar sought and was made by the bankruptcy court to auction its two satellites to pay its outstanding liabilities. The auction for ProtoStar I was set by the bankruptcy court for October 14, 2009,[4] however the auction was delayed until October 31, 2009, based on interest from 11 different satellite operating companies.[5] The auction was won by Intelsat Corp with a bid of $210M, beating out European rival Eutelsat.[6]
ProtoStar I[edit]
The ProtoStar I satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) based on the SS/L 1300 spacecraft design. It was originally built by SS/L as the ChinaSat 8 satellite and scheduled for launch in April 1999 on a Long March 3B rocket.[7] However, the U.S. Department of State blocked its export to China under ITAR regulations.[8] The satellite was placed in storage and sold to ProtoStar in 2006.[9]
On January 5, 2007, SS/L announced that the satellite would be modified to meet ProtoStar's requirements.[10] The fueled satellite weighed 4,100 kilograms (9,000 lb) and will operate in both the Ku band and the C band.[11]
On January 8, 2007 Arianespace announced that ProtoStar had contracted with Arianespace for the launch of ProtoStar I.[11] It was launched aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket on July 7, 2008.[12] Post-launch maneuvering of the satellite was performed successfully July 8, 2008.,[2] and ProtoStar I was placed into its geostationary orbital location of 98.5 degrees East Longitude.
Following the sale of ProtoStar I in the ProtoStar bankruptcy auction, October 29, 2009, and the completion of the sale with Intelsat, Intelsat renamed the satellite Intelsat 25.[13] Intelsat 25 will serve for African market at 31.5 West orbital location.
ProtoStar II[edit]
On January 14, 2008, Boeing announced that the Boeing Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, California would provide a spacecraft based on the Boeing 601HP spacecraft design for use as ProtoStar II.[14] The spacecraft was originally built for PanAmSat (now Intelsat) to be used as Galaxy-8iR, but that contract was terminated November 15, 2002.[15] On May 16, 2009, ProtoStar II was carried to orbit on a Proton rocket provided by International Launch Services.[16]
On June 16, 2009, Boeing announced the successful in-orbit handover of the satellite to ProtoStar Ltd. following successful in-orbit tests.[17]
In December 2009 SES purchased Protostar II at auction for its SES World Skies unit. The purchase price was $185 million.[18]
Ground control segment[edit]
The ProtoStar I ground control system is in Singapore and will be operated by SingTel. For ProtoStar II the primary control system will be installed in Indonesia and operated by Indovision, with a backup system integrated into the control system for ProtoStar I. Hardware and software for these systems are being provided by Integral Systems.[19]
References[edit]
- ^ "ProtoStar Closes On US$210 Million Satellite Financing". spaceref.com. November 16, 2006. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Space Systems/Loral-Built ProtoStar I Satellite Successfully Performs Post-Launch Maneuvers". Archived from the original on 2012-09-12.
- ^ Jason Cornell (August 1, 2009). "Direct Satellite TV Provider, ProtoStar, Files for Bankruptcy Following Defaults on Loan Agreements". Delawarebankruptcy.foxrothschild.com. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ "Bankruptcy Court Sets Protostar Auction Dates". SpaceNews.com. August 31, 2009. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ Doug Lung (May 11, 2009). "Intelsat Wins ProtoStar 1 Satellite Auction". Tvtechnology.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (October 30, 2009). "Intelsat Outbids Eutelsat for Protostar-1". SpaceNews.com.
- ^ Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (April 26, 1999). "Launch schedule" (PDF). Commercial Space Transportation Quarterly Launch Report. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2022.
- ^ Zelnio, Ryan (January 9, 2006). "A short history of export control policy". The Space Review.
- ^ Loral (January 7, 2007). "Loral to convert unlaunched ChinaSat-8 for ProtoStar" (Press release). Spaceflight Now.
- ^ "Space Systems/Loral Awarded Contract To Deliver Satellite To ProtoStar Ltd". SS/L. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12.
- ^ a b "Arianespace to launch ProtoStar I". Arianespace. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08.
- ^ "Another successful Arianespace launch: ProtoStar I and BADR-6 are in orbit". Arianespace.
- ^ "UPDATE 1-Intelsat to buy ProtoStar 1 satellite for $210 mln". Reuters. October 10, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Boeing Awarded Contract for Direct-to-Home Entertainment Satellite". Boeing. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "ProtoStar 2".
- ^ "ILS Proton Successfully launches Indostar II/Protostar II Satellite". May 16, 2009. Archived from the original on October 10, 2010.
- ^ "Boeing Hands Over IndoStar II/ProtoStar II Satellite Following Successful In-Orbit Tests". ProtoStar. June 16, 2009.
- ^ Peter B. de Selding (December 17, 2009). "SES Wins Auction for ProtoStar 2". Space News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012.
- ^ "Integral Systems Awarded Contract to Provide Protostar-II Ground Segment" (PDF). Integral Systems. April 22, 2008.