MELBOURNE, Fla., August 4 -- Harris Corp., a manufacturer of satellite communications systems for government and commercial applications, has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to provide an unfurlable mesh reflector for the JCSAT-9 geostationary telecommunications satellite. The high-power, hybrid JCSAT-9, owned and operated by JSAT Corp., will carry C-, Ku- and S-band transponders that will provide satellite communications service throughout Asia and Japan following its launch, scheduled for 2005.
Harris has produced more than 30 similar reflectors for a variety of military and commercial applications. The company previously supplied Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems with unfurlable mesh reflectors for the N-STAR c and Asia Cellular Satellite mobile communications satellites, which provide mobile telephony and data services.
The Harris reflector, which will be attached to the satellite by a support boom, includes a gold mesh reflective surface and is stowed for launch like a simple umbrella. The equipment will be manufactured at Harris facilities in Palm Bay, Fla. Once the satellite achieves operational orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth, ground controllers will send a command signal to the satellite that will prompt an electronic motor to unfurl the reflector. The satellite will provide satellite communications and broadcasting services that offer a variety of features to support high-volume, wide-distribution, high-speed networks.
For more information, visit: www.harris.com