Telesat slips launch of Lightspeed
December 2, 2021
By Chris Forrester
Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat has said that its important new Lightspeed low Earth orbiting constellation will not now become operational much before 2024. It had been expected to launch in late 2023.
The slippage, confirmed to the Runway Girl Network web-site, came from Telesat regional sales VP Philippe Schleret, who said that Telesat was working closely with satellite builder Thales Alena to mitigate the delays which are largely down to supply chain issues.
Despite the slippage it is expected that Telesat Lightspeed in-flight connectivity services to first materialise over the planet’s higher latitudes which means Alaska, Canada, the north Atlantic and norther European aircraft routes and the polar regions.