Telesat and APT to build jv satellite
January 4, 2016
By Chris Forrester
Telesat of Canada and APT Satellite (of Hong Kong) are to build a new satellite and divide the eventual costs. The new craft will replace their jointly-owned Telstar-18/Apstar-5 satellite which operates from 138 degrees East.
The new craft will be called 18-Vantage/Apstar-5C, and will be built by Space Systems/Loral and is scheduled for launch in early 2018.
The ‘Vantage’ name is Telesat’s new naming style for its High Throughput satellites. The design calls for 63 C- and Ku-band transponders.
Specifically, APT/Apstar will ‘own’ 54.47 percent of the satellite’s capacity, equivalent to about 36.2 transponders. APT is itself majority owned by the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp.
The satellite’s footprint will serve China, Mongolia, India and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean region including Australia.