Mexsat 3

Mexsat 3 is a communications satellite built by Orbital Sciences for operator Secretaria de Communicaciones y Transportes (SCT) of Mexico. The Mexsat satellite system consists of two Mobile Satellite Services Spacecraft, Mexsat 1 and 2 built by Boeing, and a single Fixed Satellite Services Spacecraft, Mexsat 3.

The Mexsat 3 Spacecraft is based on Orbital’s flight proven GEOStar-2.4 satellite platform, having a liftoff weight of 3,000 Kilograms. The satellite has two three-panel Solar Arrays that are deployed once the vehicle is in orbit. Mexsat 3 features a liquid-fueled propulsion system centered around the IHI BT-4 engine. BT-4 was developed by IHI Aerospace, Japan and has a dry mass of 4 kilograms and a length of 0.65 meters. The engine provides 450 Newtons of Thrust and uses Hydrazine and Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen as propellants.

The vehicle hosts a communications payload consisting of 12 extended C-Band transponders with a 2.3-meter dual gridded deployable reflector and 12 extended Ku-Band transponders with a single 2.5 by 2.7 meter single shell super-elliptical deployable reflector. Mexsat 3 will operate from 114.9 degrees West longitude to provide coverage to Mexico for at least 15 years.