Garuda - Proton's payload
The ACeS (ASIA Cellular Satellite), Garuda 1 Global Mobile Personal Communications Systems satellite is the world’s first regional satellite-based mobile telecommunications system specifically designed for the Asdian market. It is scheduled to be launched on a Proton/Block DM at 14:10:54 Baikonur time (4:10:54 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan.
For Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) in Sunnyvale, California, the spacecraft signifies significant technology breakthroughs. ACeS Garuda 1 is one of the most powerful telecommunications satellites ever launched into space, boasting 14 kilowatts at the beginning of its life and 9 kilowatts at the end. It includes two 40-foot (12-meter) antennas and on-board digital signal processing of up to 140 spot beams covering the whole of Asia. As a result, a typical mobile phone handset can communicate with this commercial geostationary satellite from the ground. The Garuda 1 satellite is capable of supporting up to 11,000 simultaneous telephone channels and up to 2 million subscribers. In addition, AceS' Garuda 1 is the largest commercial satellite ever built by Lockheed Martin. It weighs 9,920 pounds (4500 kilograms).
The significance of Garuda's launch to Khrunichev and RKK Energia
There are a number of "firsts" associated with the ACeS Garuda 1 satellite:
- It is the heaviest single commercial satellite ever launched on a Proton
- It is physically the largest payload to ever to fit into the standard commercial Proton fairing to date -- standing over 20 feet (6 meters) tall
- It will be the first commercial three-burn injection to orbit by the Block DM acceleration module for a geosynchronous transfer orbit. RKK Energia built the Block DM. Traditionally, this acceleration module produces only two burns for commercial flights, but adding a third burn will allow the Proton to place a significantly larger mass into an initial low Earth-parking orbit. Thus the Block DM could be considered as a competitor to a recently tested Fregat partly re-usable acceleration module. NPO Lavochkin builds Fregat.
About the mission
"We are very pleased to be a part of this historic mission," said Dr. Mark J. Albrecht, president of ILS. "From the architecture and innovative commercial applications of the spacecraft, to the enhanced capability of the Proton rocket, the AceS Garuda 1 launch is a significant milestone for all parties involved."
For San Diego, California-based International Launch Services (ILS), which provides commercial launches using Russian-built Proton and American-built Atlas rockets, the AceS Garuda 1 mission will mark its first launch on a Proton this year, as well as the successful return to flight of the Proton launch vehicle. It will also be the 13th successful commercial Proton mission under the auspices of ILS.
What is the ACeS constellation?
"When completed, the ACeS constellation will instantaneously provide the communications infrastructure required to serve more than half of the world’s population," said Peter Kujawski, president of Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. "Given the size and topography of Asia, satellite-based telecommunications service is the best way to serve this market. We are extremely pleased to be a part of the ACeS team."
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