December 22, 2021 3:32 pm

Inmarsat-6 F1

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H-IIA

Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
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December 22, 2021 3:32 pm

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2026-07-11 16:35:51

Inmarsat-6 is the sixth generation of satellites for the London-based global mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat. It consists of a dual mission to augment both L-band and Ka-band Global Xpress services. Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded a contract by Inmarsat to design and develop the first two Inmarsat-6 (I-6) mobile communications satellites, creating the most versatile mobile services satellites in its fleet. The two I-6 satellites are based on Airbus Defence and Space’s Eurostar platform in its E3000e variant, which exclusively uses electric propulsion for orbit raising. The satellites take advantage of the reduction in mass that this electric propulsion technology enables for a dual payload mission, with an exceptionally large next generation digitally processed payload. I-6 F1 and F2 both carry a large 9 m aperture L-band antenna and nine multibeam Ka-band antennas, and feature a high level of flexibility and connectivity. A new generation modular digital processor provides full routing flexibility over up to 8000 channels and dynamic power allocation to over 200 spot beams in L-band. Ka-band spot beams are steerable over the full Earth disk, with flexible channel to beam allocation.
Launch Overview
Window Open 14:33 UTC
Window Close 16:33 UTC
Lift Off Dec 22, 2021 · 15:32 UTC
Launch Facility Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Launch Pad Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Target Orbit Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Payload Inmarsat-6 F1
Rocket H-IIA
Destination Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
Inmarsat-6 is the sixth generation of satellites for the London-based global mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat. It consists of a dual mission to augment both L-band and Ka-band Global Xpress services. Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded a contract by Inmarsat to design and develop the first two Inmarsat-6 (I-6) mobile communications satellites, creating the most versatile mobile services satellites in its fleet. The two I-6 satellites are based on Airbus Defence and Space’s Eurostar platform in its E3000e variant, which exclusively uses electric propulsion for orbit raising. The satellites take advantage of the reduction in mass that this electric propulsion technology enables for a dual payload mission, with an exceptionally large next generation digitally processed payload. I-6 F1 and F2 both carry a large 9 m aperture L-band antenna and nine multibeam Ka-band antennas, and feature a high level of flexibility and connectivity. A new generation modular digital processor provides full routing flexibility over up to 8000 channels and dynamic power allocation to over 200 spot beams in L-band. Ka-band spot beams are steerable over the full Earth disk, with flexible channel to beam allocation.

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LEO Payload

Total Launches

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Launch Overview
Window Open 14:33 UTC
Window Close 16:33 UTC
Lift Off Dec 22, 2021 · 15:32 UTC
Launch Facility Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Launch Pad Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
Target Orbit Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Payload Inmarsat-6 F1
Rocket H-IIA
Destination Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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