SpaceX readies for SES+Echostar ‘condo’ sat
October 5, 2017
By Chris Forrester
SpaceX has this week readied and test-fired one of its ‘pre-flown’ and ‘flight-tested’ Falcon 9 rockets in preparation for a launch currently scheduled for October 7th at 6.35pm Florida-time.
SpaceX’s brief is to launch a satellite for its joint-venture clients, SES and Echostar. Described as a ‘condo-sat’, the satellite will operate from a single orbital position (105 degrees West) but with two missions.
SES will use its portion of the satellite as SES-11 for Ku and C-band usage and replacing capacity on AMC-18.
Echostar 105 will carry 24-Ku-band transponders which will be used for the broadcaster’s DTH service.