Inmarsat launches its first new generation Global Xpress satellite

The new generation satellites (of which three have been built, plus one reserve) have 89 fixed and orientable Ka-band footprints (Global Xpress), facilitating new mobility services.

A Russian Proton-M/Briz-M rocket has placed a new satellite from the international consortium into geostationary orbit Inmarsat. This is the first Inmarsat-5, a 6,090 kilo device manufactured by the American company Boeing on a BSS-702HP platform.

Fully recovered from its previous problems, the rocket took off from Baikonur at 12:12 UTC on December 8, carrying its cargo to a supersynchronous trajectory, which the satellite engine will convert into circular and geostationary.

The new generation satellites (of which three have been built, plus one reserve) have 89 fixed and orientable Ka-band footprints (Global Xpress), which will allow customers to use their mobile communications systems with great flexibility, depending on demand. Its main users will be ships and airlines.

Previous Inmarsat satellites used the L frequency band. Their replacement with the Ka band will offer higher data transmission speeds, although some of the old units remain operational.