Optus (satellite) facts for kids
Optus is an Australian company that helps people communicate using satellites. These satellites are like super-high towers in space that send TV signals, internet, and phone calls across Australia and New Zealand. Optus has the biggest network of satellites in this region.
Their main satellite control center is in Belrose, near Sydney. Optus groups its satellites into different types: A, B, C, and D. As of 2014, they were using Optus B3, Optus C1, Optus D1, Optus D2, and Optus D3. Some older satellites like Optus A1, A2, A3, and B1 have been retired.
In 2014, another Australian company called NBN Co chose Optus to help run two special satellites, called Sky Muster. These satellites provide fast internet to people in country and remote areas of Australia.
Contents
A-Class Satellites: Early Space Explorers
The A-Class satellites were some of the first ones used by Optus. They were originally funded by the Australian Government for a company called Aussat. When Optus started in 1991, they bought Aussat and its satellites as part of the deal.
- Satellite Type: Hughes HS-376
- Lifespan: 7 to 10 years
- Equipment: 15 Ku band transponders (these are like special radios that send and receive signals)
- Size: 2.2 meters wide, 2.9 meters tall (packed), 6.3 meters tall (unfolded in space)
Aussat (Optus) A1: First in Orbit
- Location: Orbiting at 160° east (from 1985–1993)
- Launch Date: 27 August 1985
- Status: No longer in service
Aussat 1 was put into space by the Space Shuttle Space Shuttle Discovery on its first day of the STS-51-I mission.
Aussat (Optus) A2: Another Early Launch
- Locations: Orbiting at 156° east (1985–1993), then 164° east (1993–1999)
- Launch Date: 27 November 1985
- Status: No longer in service
Aussat 2 was launched by the Space Shuttle Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-61-B mission.
Aussat (Optus) A3: Longest-Lasting A-Class
- Locations: Orbiting at 164° east (1987–1993), then 156° east (1993–1995), then 152° east (1995–1999)
- Launch Date: 16 September 1987
- Status: Moved to a "graveyard orbit" (a place where old satellites go) and shut down in April 2008.
- Fun Fact: It was the oldest satellite of its type (HS-376) still working when it retired!
Aussat 3 was launched from Guiana Space Centre using an Ariane 3 rocket.
B-Class Satellites: New Designs and Challenges
The B-Class satellites were built by Hughes. They were launched from China using Long March rockets. These were the first American-built satellites allowed to be launched by Chinese rockets. China offered a much cheaper price for launches, which helped them enter the space launch market.
- Satellite Type: Hughes HS-601
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Equipment: 15 Ku band transponders, 1 L band transponder, and other special equipment.
Optus B1: A Satellite with Hiccups
- Main Location: Orbiting at 160° east
- Current Location: Sent to a "junk orbit" (a safe place for retired satellites)
- Launch Date: 13 August 1992
Optus B1 was moved to its junk orbit in May 2008.
Service Interruptions
Optus B1 had a few issues during its time.
- Control System Problem: On May 21, 2005, the main control system for the satellite stopped working. Services were temporarily lost until the backup system was switched on.
- Positioning Glitch: On March 30, 2006, the satellite moved out of position during a routine check. This caused TV and radio services to stop for several hours, especially affecting people in Australia and New Zealand during peak viewing times.
Optus B2: A Tragic Launch Failure
- Launch Date: 21 December 1992
The rocket carrying Optus B2 had a major problem: its nose cone, called the "payload fairing," broke apart. This destroyed the satellite before it even reached space. The rocket kept going, but it only delivered pieces of the satellite into orbit.
At first, no one knew why it happened. But when another Chinese rocket had the same problem in 1995 with a different satellite (Apstar 2), engineers figured out the cause. It was due to strong air forces and wind during the launch. This event caused a big debate in the United States, leading to a ban on American satellites being launched by Chinese rockets for a while.
Optus B3: The Replacement Satellite
- Main Locations: Orbiting at 156° east (at first), then 152° east
- Current Location: Orbiting at 164° east (as of 2008)
- Launch Date: 27 August 1994
Optus B3 was launched to replace the lost Optus B2. After the Optus B2 disaster, the satellite builders suggested making the rocket's nose cone stronger. The Chinese decided to add more rivets instead. Luckily, the launch of Optus B3 was successful. However, the next launch of the same rocket type still had a nose cone failure, destroying the Apstar 2 satellite.
This satellite is actually owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and leased to Optus. It was later replaced by Optus D2.
- Satellite Type: Space Systems/Loral (SS/L): LS-1300
- Launch Date: 11 June 2003
- Location: Orbiting at 156° east
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Equipment: Many different types of transponders, including Ku band, Ka band, X band, and UHF.
Optus C1 was partly paid for by the Australian Government's Defence Department. This means its use is shared between military communications and civilian telecommunications, especially for sending TV services across Australia. A company called Mitsubishi Electric built all the communication systems for Optus C1.
D-Class Satellites: Expanding Services
- Manufacturer: Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Satellite Type: Orbital STAR 2 platform
- Lifespan: 15+ years
The D1 and D2 satellites were launched to replace and improve the services of the older B1 and B3 satellites, which had been working longer than expected. The D3 satellite was placed next to C1 to add more capacity.
Optus D1: Boosting Broadcasts
- Location: Orbiting at 160° east
- Launch Date: 13 October 2006
- Equipment: 24 Ku band transponders
- Launch Weight: 2350 kilograms
D1 was successfully launched by an Ariane 5 ECA rocket. It was the first satellite to sign a contract for special mission assurance, meaning extra steps were taken to ensure a smooth launch.
Many major TV networks in Australia and New Zealand, like ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, and Sky Television New Zealand, use D1. It also helps with VSAT users, which are small satellite dishes used for internet and data.
New Zealand Beam Mix-Up
During testing, it was found that the New Zealand signal beam on D1 was set up differently than expected. This meant many existing TV receivers in New Zealand couldn't pick up the signal.
Because of this, Sky Television New Zealand had to use a different, more general signal beam. However, the free-to-air TV service, Freeview, couldn't switch due to rules about broadcasting rights. So, Freeview had to be set up on the new, differently aligned beam.
But don't worry! On July 31, 2007, Sky Television successfully updated all its customers' set-top boxes over the air. This allowed them to receive the new signal, and Sky could go back to its original plan.
Optus D2: Replacing an Old Friend
- Location: Orbiting at 152° east
- Launch Date: 5 October 2007
- Equipment: 24 active Ku band transponders
- Launch Weight: 2375 kilograms
D2 was successfully launched from the Guiana Space Centre by an Ariane 5 GS rocket.
Optus D2 replaced Optus B3, which had been working for 13 years by the time D2 was launched. D2 also carries many free-to-air channels, including many in languages other than English.
Optus D3: More Capacity for Entertainment
- Location: Orbiting at 156° east
- Launch Date: 21 August 2009
- Equipment: 32 Ku band transponders
- Launch Weight: 2500 kilograms
The third satellite in the D series was successfully launched into space by Arianespace using an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This satellite works alongside Optus C1. Optus sold a quarter of its capacity to Foxtel to help them provide High Definition TV, new channels, and better picture and sound quality.
Optus 10: The Latest Addition
- Location: Orbiting at 156° east
- Launch Date: 11 September 2014
- Launch Site: Guiana Space Center
- Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA
- Manufacturer: Space Systems Loral (SSL)
- Satellite Type: LS-1300
- Possible Equipment: 32 Ku band transponders
- Launch Weight: 3200 kilograms
- Orbit Type: Geostationary (meaning it stays in the same spot relative to the Earth)
"Optus 10" was built by Space Systems/Loral. Optus announced it would provide "high quality broadcast services to households, and two way voice and data communication services to areas in and around Australia and NZ." It also helps government departments, big companies, and broadcasters like FOXTEL, ABC, SBS, and Sky TV New Zealand.
