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Skynet has new launch opportunity British Skynet satellite launched
(about 2 hours later)
There will be another attempt on Sunday to launch Britain's Skynet 5 satellite. The British military's Skynet 5 satellite has been launched into space after a last-minute technical glitch delayed its lift-off by 24 hours.
The spacecraft is part of a £3.2bn system that will deliver secure, high-bandwidth communications for the UK military and allied forces.The spacecraft is part of a £3.2bn system that will deliver secure, high-bandwidth communications for the UK military and allied forces.
Saturday's attempt at a lift-off from Kourou in French Guiana was thwarted by a technical glitch in ground equipment at the European spaceport. Saturday's attempt at lift-off was thwarted by a technical glitch in ground equipment.
Officials have now scheduled Skynet's launcher - an Ariane 5-ECA rocket - for a 1903 local time (2203 GMT) flight. The rocket successfully left the ground from Kourou in French Guiana.
Officials had scheduled Skynet's launcher - an Ariane 5-ECA rocket - for a 1903 local time (2203 GMT) flight on Sunday.
A delay was ordered on Saturday when a fault was found in the "deluge" system that sprays water across the launch pad to keep it cool as the rocket lifts off.
The British spacecraft is the first in what will eventually be a three-satellite constellation designed to allow the Army, Royal Navy and RAF to pass much more data, faster between command centres.The British spacecraft is the first in what will eventually be a three-satellite constellation designed to allow the Army, Royal Navy and RAF to pass much more data, faster between command centres.
Every piece of satellite bandwidth is valuable and the military is always hungry for more Bill Sweetman, Jane's Information Group "It's a groundbreaking military satellite system," explained Patrick Wood, who has led the development of the spacecraft for manufacturer EADS Astrium.Every piece of satellite bandwidth is valuable and the military is always hungry for more Bill Sweetman, Jane's Information Group "It's a groundbreaking military satellite system," explained Patrick Wood, who has led the development of the spacecraft for manufacturer EADS Astrium.
"It's going to provide five times the capacity that the previous system provided, and allow the military to do things they just haven't been able to do in the past," he told BBC News."It's going to provide five times the capacity that the previous system provided, and allow the military to do things they just haven't been able to do in the past," he told BBC News.
Click here to see how the system will be deployed Click here to see how the system will be deployed
'Information warfare''Information warfare'
Skynet 5 matches the capability of the best modern satellite platforms - on which the world depends for much of its telephone, TV, and internet traffic - but has been specially prepared for military use.Skynet 5 matches the capability of the best modern satellite platforms - on which the world depends for much of its telephone, TV, and internet traffic - but has been specially prepared for military use.
The Skynet system brings an increase in power and bandwidthEnlarge Image Four steerable antennas give it the ability to focus bandwidth on to particular locations where it is most needed - where British forces are engaged in operations.The Skynet system brings an increase in power and bandwidthEnlarge Image Four steerable antennas give it the ability to focus bandwidth on to particular locations where it is most needed - where British forces are engaged in operations.
Its technologies have also been designed to resist any interference - attempts to disable or take control of the spacecraft - and any efforts to eavesdrop on sensitive communications.Its technologies have also been designed to resist any interference - attempts to disable or take control of the spacecraft - and any efforts to eavesdrop on sensitive communications.
An advanced receive antenna allows the spacecraft to selectively listen to signals and filter out attempts to "jam" it.An advanced receive antenna allows the spacecraft to selectively listen to signals and filter out attempts to "jam" it.
"As far as we know, this is the most sophisticated technology of its type - certainly in Europe," said Mr Wood. "It allows you to produce peaks of reception across the surface of the Earth, and to change that antenna pattern in extremely rapid time.""As far as we know, this is the most sophisticated technology of its type - certainly in Europe," said Mr Wood. "It allows you to produce peaks of reception across the surface of the Earth, and to change that antenna pattern in extremely rapid time."
Skynet 5 replaces Skynet 4. The new spacecraft system is bigger and much more powerful. The high traffic rates are in both directions.Skynet 5 replaces Skynet 4. The new spacecraft system is bigger and much more powerful. The high traffic rates are in both directions.
Naval vessels have been re-equipped to use Skynet 5Analysts talk increasingly of the military's "network enabled capability" - the idea that information and fast access to it are paramount.Naval vessels have been re-equipped to use Skynet 5Analysts talk increasingly of the military's "network enabled capability" - the idea that information and fast access to it are paramount.
"Modern warfare is all about information," said Bill Sweetman, the technology and aerospace editor for Jane's Information Group. "Every piece of satellite bandwidth is valuable and the military is always hungry for more."Modern warfare is all about information," said Bill Sweetman, the technology and aerospace editor for Jane's Information Group. "Every piece of satellite bandwidth is valuable and the military is always hungry for more.
"The practice is to offload mundane traffic on to commercial satellites and then to use a complementary, secure proprietary system for the traffic that has to be protected."The practice is to offload mundane traffic on to commercial satellites and then to use a complementary, secure proprietary system for the traffic that has to be protected.
"Take for example the capability of unmanned air vehicles. These generate a lot of imagery and that has to be passed over a secure communications link. Modern warfare involves passing around a lot of data, and that puts a premium on satellite capacity.""Take for example the capability of unmanned air vehicles. These generate a lot of imagery and that has to be passed over a secure communications link. Modern warfare involves passing around a lot of data, and that puts a premium on satellite capacity."
'Physical assurance''Physical assurance'
The whole Skynet 5 constellation has been funded through the largest Private Finance Initiative (PFI) signed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD does not own the hardware; it merely buys the services run over it.The whole Skynet 5 constellation has been funded through the largest Private Finance Initiative (PFI) signed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD does not own the hardware; it merely buys the services run over it.
Initially agreed in 2003, the PFI saw Paradigm Secure Communications, which is a subsidiary of EADS Astrium, take over and operate the UK's military satellite comms network.Initially agreed in 2003, the PFI saw Paradigm Secure Communications, which is a subsidiary of EADS Astrium, take over and operate the UK's military satellite comms network.
UK forces have seen a steady upgrade in all their comms systemsAs part of this £2.6bn deal, Paradigm agreed to loft new and more advanced spacecraft, and overhaul the ground systems needed to support them. This has included replacing and updating control centres, and major antennas and terminals on military ships, land vehicles and planes.UK forces have seen a steady upgrade in all their comms systemsAs part of this £2.6bn deal, Paradigm agreed to loft new and more advanced spacecraft, and overhaul the ground systems needed to support them. This has included replacing and updating control centres, and major antennas and terminals on military ships, land vehicles and planes.
Paradigm gets an annual fee for providing this service. It can also earn money by selling excess bandwidth - expected to be about 50% on each spacecraft - to Nato and other friendly countries.Paradigm gets an annual fee for providing this service. It can also earn money by selling excess bandwidth - expected to be about 50% on each spacecraft - to Nato and other friendly countries.
The cost to the British taxpayer of the PFI jumped by several hundred million pounds in 2005, principally because of a decision to go for the "physical assurance" of building a spare spacecraft rather than a straightforward insurance policy that would pay out in the event of a launch failure or breakdown in orbit.The cost to the British taxpayer of the PFI jumped by several hundred million pounds in 2005, principally because of a decision to go for the "physical assurance" of building a spare spacecraft rather than a straightforward insurance policy that would pay out in the event of a launch failure or breakdown in orbit.
Even so, the MoD says, the Paradigm contract should save many millions of pounds over the 18 years of the deal, compared with a more conventional procurement arrangement.Even so, the MoD says, the Paradigm contract should save many millions of pounds over the 18 years of the deal, compared with a more conventional procurement arrangement.
After launch, it will take about a week to put Skynet 5A in its final geostationary orbit.After launch, it will take about a week to put Skynet 5A in its final geostationary orbit.
The 5B platform will be launched towards the end of this year, with 5C due in orbit in 2008.The 5B platform will be launched towards the end of this year, with 5C due in orbit in 2008.
Skynet 5A was due to have a co-passenger for Saturday's flight: the Indian TV satellite Insat 4B. Skynet 5A was due to have a co-passenger for Sunday's flight: the Indian TV satellite Insat 4B.
THE SKYNET 5 MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM The satellites are 'hardened' against interference. A special receive antenna (1) can resist attempts at jammingEach spacecraft has four steerable antennas (2) that can concentrate bandwidth on to particular regionsThe system gives global coverage (3), providing five times the capacity afforded by the previous systemImproved technologies, including a solar 'sail' (4), lengthen the platforms' operational lives to at least 15 yearsEach spacecraft (5) is a 2x2x2m box and weighs just under 5 tonnes; the solar wings once unfurled measure 34m tip to tip THE SKYNET 5 MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM The satellites are 'hardened' against interference. A special receive antenna (1) can resist attempts at jammingEach spacecraft has four steerable antennas (2) that can concentrate bandwidth on to particular regionsThe system gives global coverage (3), providing five times the capacity afforded by the previous systemImproved technologies, including a solar 'sail' (4), lengthen the platforms' operational lives to at least 15 yearsEach spacecraft (5) is a 2x2x2m box and weighs just under 5 tonnes; the solar wings once unfurled measure 34m tip to tip
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Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk