Space Systems/Loral (SSL) shipped “Sky Muster”, a high performance, Ka-band satellite designed and built for Australia’s new nbn broadband network.
Originally called NBN Co 1A, the satellite now awaiting launch, was renamed “Sky Muster” by the six-year-old winner of a country-wide contest. The young girl, who depends on satellite internet for her education, selected the name for its reference to the gathering of cattle, which captures how the satellite will help ’round-up’ and connect Australians.
The satellite has now arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, where it will be launched aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle by Arianespace. SSL is also building a second satellite for the nbn network. The two satellites will work in conjunction with one another to provide expanded and advanced service coverage to some of the most remote places in Australia, as well as its coastal islands and external territories including Norfolk Island, Cocos Island, Christmas Island, and Macquarie Island in the Antarctic.
“The satellite for Australia’s broadband network is a very advanced broadband satellite that will cover the entire Australian continent including its offshore islands,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “It is gratifying to know that the work we do in Palo Alto will help connect underserved people to the rich resources available through the Internet.”
