SES-17 satellite prior to launch

One of the largest telecommunications satellite ever built in Europe – which will provide high-speed data links for commercial aviation – is ready to be launched.

The SES-17 satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, introduces cutting-edge innovations that were developed with ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems to support the European space industry in the highly competitive global telecommunications market.

A fifth-generation digital transparent processor developed by Thales Alenia Space with the support of the French Space Agency CNES and ESA is at the heart of this high-speed “switchboard in the sky” satellite. The unit can be fully programmed while in orbit to route signals between people on board planes to the ground, for example.

It can provide data links of up to 2 Gbit per second between any of the approximately 200 fixed beams that cover an extensive Earth surface including the transatlantic air corridors.

This demanding mission is only possible thanks to a novel cooling system that was developed under the Spacebus Neo Partnership Project. The system is the first mechanically pumped loop to be used on large commercial telecommunications satellites.

The Spacebus Neo programme is a Partnership Project with satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space, ESA, the French Space Agency CNES and SES, the company that will operate the SES-17 satellite.