Optus (satellite) series
Optus
A comprehensive list and description of the Optus satellite series, including A, B, C, D, and 10/11 classes, detailing their design, equipment, launch history, and operational locations for telecommunications services in Australia and New Zealand.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Mass
- 2,350 kg
- Design life
- 15 years
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- A-class satellite type
- Hughes HS-376
- A-class design life (A1 & A2)
- 7 Years
- A-class design life (A3)
- 10 Years
- A-class equipment
- 15 Ku band transponders (including four 30 W transponders and eleven 12 W transponders)
- A-class diameter
- 2.2m
- A-class height (stowed)
- 2.9m
- A-class height (deployed)
- 6.3m
- Aussat (optus) a1 operational location
- 160° east (1985–1993)
- Aussat (optus) a1 launch date
- 27 August 1985
- Aussat (optus) a2 operational locations
- 156° east (1985–1993), 164° east (1993–1999)
- Aussat (optus) a2 launch date
- 27 November 1985
- Aussat (optus) a3 operational locations
- 164° east (1987–1993), 156° east (1993–1995), 152° east (1995–1999)
- Aussat (optus) a3 launch date
- 16 September 1987
- Aussat (optus) a3 moved to graveyard orbit and shutdown
- April 2008
- B-class satellite type
- Hughes HS-601
- B-class design life
- 10 Years
- B-class equipment
- 15 Ku band transponders, 1 L band transponder, Ka band beacon, laser retroreflector
- Optus b1 primary mission location
- 160° east
- Optus b1 current location
- Sent to Junk orbit
- Optus b1 launch date
- 14 August 1992
- Optus b1 beacon frequencies
- 12.748.000 H / 12.749.000 H
- Optus b2 launch date
- 21 December 1992
- Optus b3 primary mission locations
- 156° east (from initial launch until establishment of Optus C1), 152° east (until establishment of Optus D2)
- Optus b3 current location
- 164° east inclined (as at 2008-02-17)
- Optus b3 launch date
- 27 August 1994
- Optus (and defence) c1 satellite type
- Space Systems/Loral (SS/L): LS-1300
- Optus (and defence) c1 launch date
- 11 June 2003
- Optus (and defence) c1 location
- 156° east
- Optus (and defence) c1 design life
- 15 Years
- Optus (and defence) c1 equipment
- 24 Ku band transponders, 4 (+1) Ka band transponders, 4 X band transponders, 6 UHF transponders
- D-class manufacturer
- Orbital Sciences Corporation
- D-class satellite type
- Orbital STAR 2 platform
- D-class design life
- 15+ years
- Optus d1 location
- 160° east
- Optus d1 launch date
- 13 October 2006
- Optus d1 equipment
- 24 Ku band transponders
- Optus d1 launch mass
- 2350 kg
- Optus d2 location
- 152° east
- Optus d2 launch date
- 5 October 2007
- Optus d2 equipment
- 24 active Ku band transponders (including sixteen 150 W transponders and eight 44 W transponders)
- Optus d2 launch mass
- 2375 kg
- Optus d3 location
- 156° east
- Optus d3 launch date
- 21 August 2009
- Optus d3 equipment
- 32 Ku band transponders (consisting of twenty four 125 watt primary and eight 44 watt backup transponders)
- Optus d3 launch mass
- 2500 kg
- Optus 10 location
- 156° east
- Optus 10 launch date
- 11 September 2014
- Optus 10 launch site
- Guiana Space Center
- Optus 10 rocket
- Ariane 5 ECA
- Optus 10 manufacturer
- Space Systems Loral (SSL)
- Optus 10 bus
- LS-1300
- Optus 10 possible equipment (based on previous D-series)
- 32 Ku band transponders (consisting of twenty four 125 watt primary and eight 44 watt backup transponders)
- Optus 10 launch mass
- 3200 kg
- Optus 10 regime
- Geostationary
- Optus 11 expected launch
- Q4 2025
- Optus 11 rocket
- Ariane 6
About
This page provides a detailed overview of the Optus satellite fleet, operated by the Australian telecommunications company Optus. The satellites are categorized into A, B, C, D, and 10/11 classes, each with distinct specifications and operational histories. The A-Class satellites (A1, A2, A3) were Hughes HS-376 models with a design life of 7-10 years, equipped with 15 Ku-band transponders. They had a diameter of 2.2m and a height of 2.9m (stowed) to 6.3m (deployed). The B-Class satellites (B1, B2, B3) were Hughes HS-601 models with a 10-year design life, featuring 15 Ku-band transponders, 1 L-band transponder, a Ka-band beacon, and a laser retroreflector. Optus C1, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) using the LS-1300 platform, had a 15-year design life and was equipped with 24 Ku-band, 4 (+1) Ka-band, 4 X-band, and 6 UHF transponders, partially funded by the Australian Government for defence and telecommunications. The D-Class satellites (D1, D2, D3) were built by Orbital Sciences Corporation on the Orbital STAR 2 platform, designed for 15+ years of service. D1 had 24 Ku-band transponders and a launch mass of 2350 kg. D2 featured 24 active Ku-band transponders (sixteen 150W, eight 44W) and a launch mass of 2375 kg. D3 included 32 Ku-band transponders (twenty-four 125W primary, eight 44W backup) and a launch mass of 2500 kg. Optus 10, also an SS/L LS-1300 bus, had a launch mass of 3200 kg and was expected to have similar transponder configurations to the D-series. Optus 11 is planned for launch in Q4 2025. These satellites provide broadcast services, two-way voice and data communication, and government services across Australia and New Zealand. The page also details launch dates, operational locations, and notable incidents or failures for individual satellites.
Documentation
- Optus_Fact.pdf www.orbital.com ↗
- OptusD3_Fact.pdf www.orbital.com ↗
- WS_D1_Payload_1_0207.pdf www.optus.com.au ↗
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.