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Lockheed wins satellite bid
Lockheed Martin yesterday announced it had been awarded a contract by Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to build the VINASAT-2 satellite. In-orbit delivery is slated for the second quarter of 2012.
The contract was signed at a ceremony here yesterday covering a tender package for procuring the satellite, satellite control facilities and launch services.
Based on the highly reliable A2100 spacecraft platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in the United States, VINASAT-2 will be located at 131.8 degrees east longitude and provide a minimum service life of 15 years.
The VINASAT-2 contract marks the second satellite order VNPT has awarded to Lockheed Martin, which will manage the project in its entirety, including satellite design and manufacturing, launch procurement, and final in-orbit testing before customer acceptance. Lockheed Martin successfully delivered VINASAT-1, Viet Nam's first satellite, in 2008.
VINASAT-2 will feature 24 Ku-band fixed high power communication channels, providing uplink and downlink coverage over Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Lockheed Martin has delivered 38 A2100 commercial spacecraft with an average cycle time of 24 months that have similar complexity as VINASAT-2.
Pham Long Tran, Chairman of VNPT, said Vinasat 2 was expected to improve telecommunications in Viet Nam by transmitting radio, television and telephone communications to all corners of the country to meet increasing demand from customers
The spacecraft will enable state-of-the-art communications, providing Vietnamese with an opportunity to use multiple news services, such as mobile broadcasting, direct-to-home television, video conferencing and data transmission.
To date, VINASAT-1's capacity has been used at least 80 per cent. It is expected that between 2010-11, the entire capacity of Vinasat 1 will be put into use.
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