Country of origin Argentina Design life 15 years Launch date 16 October 2014 Operator ARSAT | Applications Communications Dry mass < 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) Manufacturer INVAP | |
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Spacecraft type Geostationary Communications satellite Launch mass 2,900 kg (6,400 lb) to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) Similar ARSAT‑1, ARSAT‑2, ARSAT‑3, Nahuel 1A, Spacebus | ||
ARSAT-3K is a geostationary communications satellite bus designed and manufactured by INVAP of Argentina for the local telecommunication company ARSAT S.A.. It is a small (4.2 kW of power generation and 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) of launch mass) three axis stabilized platform designed, manufactured and tested completely in Argentina. It is capable of carrying up to 350 kg (770 lb) of payload with a maximum power consumption of 3.4 kW at the end of life. It currently uses only chemical propulsion, but an hybrid solution which would use bi-propellant propulsion for orbit raising and electric propulsion for station keeping is being developed. A purely electric propulsion version is planned.
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ARSAT-3K
The ARSAT-3K is the initial version of this bus. It is comparable to the Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 3000B2. It uses an integrated chemical propulsion system supplied by EADS Astrium for both orbit raising and station keeping.
ARSAT-3H
The ARSAT-3H is the second version of this bus, which initiated its development during 2015. It will use an hybrid approach with bi-propellant propulsion for orbit raising and electric propulsion for station keeping.
It will keep the launch mass of 3 t (6,600 lb), but have enhanced capabilities, being able to carry a 350 kg (770 lb) of payload with a maximum power consumption of 7 kW at the end of its design life.
ARSAT-3E
The ARSAT-3E will be the third version of the platform. It will use electric propulsion exclusively. It will keep the payload and power envelope of the ARSAT-3H while applying the improvements to cost and weight reduction.
List of satellites
The Argentine Geostationary Satellite Plan 2015-2035 (Spanish: Plan Satelital Geoestacionario Argentino 2015-2035) establishes a roadmap for the platform development until 2035.