Satellite Technology Feature Article
September 22, 2009
Harris Antenna Reflector Deployed for Sirius FM-5 Satellite
By Nathesh, TMCnet Contributor
Harris Corporation, a communications and information technology company, that designed, constructed and provided mesh reflectors for commercial satellites supplied by Space Systems/Loral, has successfully deployed the advanced antenna reflector on Sirius’ FM-5 satellite.
Featuring a gold mesh reflective surface, the antenna reflector stows much like an umbrella. When the satellites achieve operational orbit, ground controllers send a command signal to the satellite to unfurl the reflector.
Dan Pearson, group president of Harris Government Communications Systems (News - Alert), said that Sirius FM-5 has marked yet another successful deployment of a Harris reflector in a commercial application. Additionally, Harris has been selected to be part of the Space Systems/Loral team in delivering the next series of satellite services.
The new satellite was put on orbit to enhance the reception to subscribers’ Sirius radios and also expand the radio services’ existing fleet of satellites. Sirius FM-5 is designed to provide more focused power in areas of peak population, such as metropolitan areas on the east and west coast, as well as improving reception when driving under heavy foliage. Home receivers can now just aim at a fixed point in the Southern sky to receive signal on a constant basis.
Under a contract to Space Systems/Loral, Harris provided an unfurlable mesh reflector for ICO Satellite Management LLCs geostationary Mobile Satellite Services, or “MSS,” communications satellite, as well as a reflector for TerreStar (News - Alert) Networks, Inc.'s geostationary TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite and two reflectors for XM Satellite Radio's XM-5 radio broadcast satellite.
Recently, Harris secured contract to supply satellite services for Carnival cruise ships and added broadband-satellite capability to its Falcon III RF-7800M wideband networking manpack radio.
Sirius FM-5 is based on SS/L’s 1300 platform and will have a specified service life of 15 years. It will carry a range of technologies, including Harris’ 9-meter unfurlable reflector, which will allow for highly-concentrated transmissions to small, advanced devices.
The reflector enables the satellite to focus the 2 GHz S-band signals in the United States in order to deliver improved and more powerful reception of Sirius’ more than 130 channels.
Nathesh is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Nathesh's articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Kelly McGuire
