Arianspace Launch Largest Commercial Satellite For TerreStar

Arianespace yesterday launched the largest commercial satellite into space, the TerreStar-1 for North America satellite phone company, TerreStar Networks Inc.

The launch was carried out by Ariane 5 ECA from the European Space Port in the Guiana Space Center. TerreStar-1 was built by Space Systems Loral in Palo Alto, California on behalf of the satellite operator TerreStar Networks Inc. based in Reston, Virginia. Weighing nearly 6,910 kg at launch, TerreStar-1 is the largest commercial communications satellite ever launched. It will be positioned at 111 degrees West, offering new-generation mobile communications services across the entire United States and Canada.



The TerreStar-1 satellite will be the foundation for a reliable, secure and resilient satellite terrestrial mobile broadband network that will provide voice, data and video services dedicated to helping solve the critical communication and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprise businesses and rural communities. Capable of managing some 500 spot beams, TerreStar-1 will have a design life exceeding 15 years in orbit.

The massive satellite will measure 18 meters across once fully deployed.