Satmex-9 Satellite to Host Payload for the FAA
Satmex announced today that its Satmex-9 next generation satellite will host a payload for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the first in a series of Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) commercial space missions.
The WAAS payload will enhance the availability and accuracy of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals for the FAA.
The Satmex-9 all-electric propulsion satellite is being built by Boeing and is based on the Boeing 702SP (small platform).
“The Satmex-9 satellite will be a key plank of our strategy to increase resources
for video and data applications in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean”, said
Patricio Northland, CEO of Satmex. “We are delighted to expand the scope of an
innovative and creative platform with the addition of a payload for Raytheon that will
contribute to increasing the integration of satellite solutions into aviation safety.”
“With a 17-year legacy as the developer of the WAAS capability, Raytheon is
proud to be the FAA’s prime contractor for the GEO Service Lease and very pleased to
have Satmex and Boeing on our GEO 5 team,” said Raytheon Director Brian Hickey.
According to Satmex the WAAS payload will provide coverage to reference stations in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, as well as the continental United States and Alaska, improving GPS signal accuracy to seven meters from 100 meters. Commercial airline and general aviation pilots can use this extremely accurate information for more direct flight paths and precision approaches to airports and remote landing sites.
“Boeing continues to be in the forefront of providing operational hosted payloads
to our many customers,” said Craig Cooning, CEO of Boeing Satellite Systems
International. “Like all 702 satellites, the 702SP capitalizes on extra satellite capacity to
provide vital services to both government and commercial operators.”
Scheduled for launch by SpaceX in the second half of 2015, the Satmex-9 satellite will be co-positioned at 116.8° West with the Satmex-8 satellite. Satmex is owned by Eutelsat Communications.
