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Thuraya 2, 3

Thuraya 2 [Boeing BSS]

Thuraya-2 and 3 are among the first satellites in the Boeing GEM (Geomobile) series. This product line expands Boeing's offerings beyond satellite manufacturing, to integrate a high-power geosynchronous satellite (derived from the Boeing BSS-702 body-stabilized design) with a ground segment and user handsets, to provide a range of cellular-like voice and data services over a large geographic region. The Thuraya ground segment includes terrestrial gateways plus a collocated network operations center and satellite control facility in the UAE.

Thuraya offers GSM-compatible mobile telephone services, transmitting and receiving calls through a single 12.25 meter-aperture reflector. The satellite employs state-of-the-art on-board digital signal processing to create more than 200 spot beams that can be redirected on-orbit, allowing the Thuraya system to adapt to business demands in real time. Calls are routed directly from one handheld unit to another, or to a terrestrial network. The system has the capacity for 13,750 simultaneous voice circuits.

Thuraya 2 and 3 have redesigned solar arrays, as the original concentrator arrays have a fogging problem reducing the performance.

Nation: United Arab Emirates
Type / Application: Communication
Operator: Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co.
Contractors: Boeing
Equipment: L-band 128 active elements, 17 W SSPAs C-band 2 active (2 spare)
Configuration: BSS-GEM (Geomobile)
Propulsion: R-4D
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 12 years
Mass: 5177 kg
Orbit: GEO
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Thuraya 2 2003-026A 10.06.2003 SL Zenit-3SL (2)
Thuraya 3 2008-001A 15.01.2008 SL Zenit-3SL (1)

References:

Further Thuraya missions:

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