Satellite 2014 Exhibition: Airbus Defense and Space showcases its technology portfolio

3 March 2014 astrium.eads.net

Presentation at the stand No. 5023, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C., ranges from secure band services and connectivity solutions to telecommunications and commercial communications satellites

Airbus Defense and Space, the world’s second largest space company, is highlighting its technology at this year’s Satellite 2014 conference in Washington D.C. The newly branded company will display some of its latest products and solutions for the military and commercial satellite communications sectors, ranging from secure band services and connectivity solutions to telecommunications and commercial communications satellites.

Airbus Defense and Space is displaying its innovative secure X-band, Ku/C-band, L-band and Ka-band services. Cutting-edge technologies will be presented, including advanced mobile and fixed connectivity solutions for reliable communications. This display of portable antennas and handheld satellite phones demonstrates how communications needs can be met – for customers in Defense, maritime and enterprise sectors – where telecoms infrastructure is damaged or unavailable.

Attendees can find out more about telecommunications satellites such as the latest communications satellite built for DirecTV that will provide High Definition television to Brazil. Based on Airbus Defense and Space’s highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform, this second satellite built for the US operator is set to be placed in orbit at the start of 2016.

The stand will feature a model of Alphasat, the world’s most sophisticated commercial communications satellite, designed and built by Airbus Defense and Space for Inmarsat. Alphasat, the first Alphabus-based satellite carrying a new generation of advanced geomobile communications payload in L-band, entered commercial service in November 2013. Its advanced payload features eight new generation digital signal processors, which are able to efficiently manage multiple communications with maximum flexibility in both frequency and beam power allocation, and an 11-metre antenna reflector.

Electric propulsion equipment for spacecraft will also be on display. This propulsion system of the future has now become a reality with Airbus Defense and Space’s Radio Frequency Ion Technology (RITA), which provides a specific impulse ten to twenty times higher than today's best performing liquid propellant rocket engines.

About Airbus Defense and Space

Airbus Defense and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defense and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defense enterprises. It employs some 40,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €14 billion per year.