Optus (satellite)
A-Class
- Satellite Type: Hughes HS-376
- Design Life: Unknown
- Equipment: 15 Ku-band transponders
The Aussat A-Class satellites were funded by the Government for Aussat Pty Ltd. When Optus was granted a telecommunications carrier licence, the Aussat A-Class satellites were also apart of the carrier licence deal.
Aussat (Optus) A1
- Launch Date: August 27th, 1985
Aussat (Optus) A2
- Launch Date: November 27th, 1985
Aussat (Optus) A3
- Launch Date: September 16th, 1987
B-Class
- Satellite Type: Hughes HS-601
- Design Life: 10 Years
- Equipment: 15 Ku-band transponders, 1 L-band tranponder, Ka-band beacon, laser retroreflector
Optus B1
- Location: 160° East
- Launch Date: August 13th, 1992
Optus B2
- Launch Date: December 21st, 1992
The launchcraft containing Optus B2 exploded on launch and was subsequently destroyed, for reasons that the designer Hughes and the Chinese (Launch Location) authorities were unable to determine
Optus B3
- Location: 153° East (Previously 156° East, prior to Optus C1 launch)
- Launch Date: August 27th, 1994
Optus B3 was launched as a replacement for the failed Optus B2.
Optus (and Defence) C1
- Satellite Type: Space Service Loral (SSL): LS-1300
- Launch Date: June 11, 2003
- Location: 156° East
- Design Life: 15 Years
- Equipment: 24 Ku-band transponders, 4 (+1) Ka-band transponders, 4 X-band transponders, 6 UHF transponders
Partially funded by the Australian Government (Defence Department) - Optus C1's use is shared between Defence and Telecommunications, in particular the supply of Television services to Australia.
Television Services
The Ku-band Transponders are exclusively used for Television Services, mainly:
- Foxtel rent a considerable amount of satellite capacity for the transmission of their Foxtel Digital service (and onsold to Austar for their Austar Digital service).
- Optus operate the RABS Service Aurora, allowing Free to Air television to be accessed via satellite in areas that may not be able to access FTA services via terrestrial means. The service is also used in a commercial capacity by a number of organisations for satellite linkups.
Defence Services
The remaining transponders (being Ka-Band, X-band and UHF) are exclusive for Defence/Military use
Optus D1 & D2
Expected for launch after 2005 both of the D-Class satellites will be based on the Orbital Star2 Platform and will contain 24 Ku-band Transponders suitable for Television services.
It is expected that both of the D-Class birds will replace the aging B-Class birds, with New Zealand's Sky Television securing access to one of the new D-Class birds.
As of August 2005, the launch of both satellites have been put on hold by Singtel Optus.