SSL 1300

Artist impression of Optus C1, built on the SSL 1300 platform^[1]

The SSL 1300, previously the LS-1300 and the FS-1300, is a satellite bus produced by SSL (company). Total broadcast power ranges from 5 to 25 kW, and the platform can accommodate from 12 to 150 transponders. The SSL 1300 is a modular platform and SSL no longer reports designators for sub-versions, such as: 1300E, 1300HL, 1300S, 1300X.^[2]

First available in the late 1980s, the SSL 1300 platform underwent revision multiple times over its design life, all the while remaining a popular communications platform.^[3] The earliest models provided 5,000 RF watts of transmitter power, weighed 5,500 kg, and required a 4-meter diameter launch fairing. Newer models provide double that, approximately 10,000 RF watts of transmitter power, weigh 6,700 kg, and require a 5-meter diameter launch fairing.^[4]

In September 2015 SSL announced that it had delivered 100 satellites based on the SSL 1300 platform. There are more SSL 1300's currently providing service on orbit than any other model communications satellite.^[5]

SSL 1300 Firsts

Over the last 25 years the SSL 1300 was the first platform to incorporate many innovations.

• It was the first satellite to use a 100-volt bus and Direct Radiating Collector (DRC) amplifiers, providing the higher power needed for direct-to-home television.^[5]
• It was the first true high-throughput satellite, an advance which now enables millions of people around the world to have access to high speed broadband.^[5]
• It was the first to reach 20-kW of power, which enables satellite broadcast of today’s HD and UltraHD television.^[5]
• It was the first satellite to provide two-way ground-based beam forming, which increases a satellite’s flexibility to meet changing business requirements.^[5]

Other advances:

• The 1300 was one of the first platforms to use shaped antenna reflectors, which enable precisely defined coverage areas.^[5]
• The 1300 was the first Western satellite to use electric propulsion, which reduces mass allowing for more payload power or a less costly launch. Today there are 18 1300s with electric propulsion on orbit.^[5]
• The 1300 was one of the first platforms to incorporate lithium-ion batteries, which have 50 percent less mass than the nickel-hydrogen batteries they replaced and helped to enable higher power satellites.^[5]
• The world’s two highest capacity broadband satellites currently providing service are built on the 1300 platform.^[5]

Deployed units

Western Hemisphere

Location	Satellite	Source	Operator	Type	Coverage	Launch date/rocket (GMT)	All locations	Remarks	As of
129.0°W	Galaxy-27	US	Intelsat	Television broadcasting & Satellite Internet Access		25 September 1999, Ariane 44LP		Formerly known as IA-7 and Telstar-7	2008-11-20
123.0°W	Galaxy-18	US	Intelsat	Television and radio broadcasting	North America	21 May 2008, Zenit-3SL		Hybrid C/Ku band satellite	2008-11-19
121.0°W	Galaxy-23	US	Intelsat	Direct Broadcasting	North America	7 August 2003, Zenit-3SL		Hybrid C/Ka band/Ku band satellite; C-band payload referred to as Galaxy-23	2008-11-26
	EchoStar-9	US	Echostar/DISH Network	Direct Broadcasting	North America	7 August 2003, Zenit-3SL		Hybrid C/Ka band/Ku band satellite; Ku/ka band payload referred to as EchoStar-9	2008-11-26
119.0°W	DirecTV-7S	US	DirecTV	Direct Broadcasting	54 Ku band transponders[6]	4 May 2004, Zenit-3SL		8 active transponders at this time	2008-11-26
110.0°W	EchoStar-11	US	Echostar/DISH Network	Direct Broadcasting		17 July 2008, Zenit-3SL			2008-11-19
	DirecTV-5	US	DirecTV	Direct Broadcasting		7 May 2002, Proton		32 Ku band transponders
101.1°W	DirecTV-9S	US	DirecTV	Direct Broadcasting		13 October 2006, Ariane 5-ECA
97.0°W	Galaxy-19	US	Intelsat	Television and Radio Broadcasting	24 C- and 28 Ku band transponders North America	24 September 2008, Zenit-3SL			2008-11-20
77.0°W	EchoStar-8	US	Echostar/DISH Network	Direct Broadcasting		21 August 2002, Proton	110°W[7]		2008-11-19
72.7°W	EchoStar-6	US	Echostar/DISH Network	Direct Broadcasting		14 July 2000, Atlas IIAS			2008-11-19
Location	Satellite	Source	Operator	Type	Coverage	Launch date/rocket (GMT)	All locations	Remarks	As of
68.5°E	Intelsat 7	ESA				16 September 1998, Ariane 44LP
166.0°E	Intelsat 8	US	Intelsat	Cable Head-End & Direct Broadcasting	C and Ku band transponders Asia-Pacific Australia	4 November 1998, Proton-K
En route to	Satellite	Source	Operator	Type	Coverage	Launch date/rocket (GMT)	Previous locations	Remarks	As of
166.0°E	Intelsat 19	US	Intelsat	Cable Head-End & Direct Broadcasting	24 C and 34 Ku band transponders Asia-Pacific Australia	1 June 2012, Zenit-3SL		Replacing Intelsat 8	2012-6-1
93.1°W	Galaxy-25	US				24 May 1997, Proton-K		formerly Telstar 5	2008-11-20

Failures

The SSL 1300 had a series of failures in 2001. Since that time, electrical failures (Intelsat 7, PAS 6, Galaxy 27) and failure of the satellite's solar panels to properly deploy (Estrela do Sul 1, Telstar 14R, Intelsat 19) are recurring issues.

Satellite	Operator	Detail	Failure Date
Echostar 5	Echostar	Dual momentum wheel failures.[8]	2001-07 and 2003–12
Echostar 6	Echostar	Partial thruster failure.	2001
Telstar 14 / Estrela do Sul 1	Telesat	Solar panel deployment failure.[9]	2004-01-11
Telstar 14R / Estrela do Sul 2	Telesat	Solar panel deployment failure.[9]	2011-05-20
GOES 9	NOAA	Momentum wheel problems.	1998-06-01
PAS 6	PanAmSat	Total power loss.	2004-03-17 and 2004-04-01
Intelsat 7	Intelsat	Partial power loss.	2001-09-06
Galaxy 26	Intelsat	Multiple system failures. Control processor failure.	2001 and 2008-06-28
Galaxy 27	Intelsat	Electrical failure.	2004-11-28.
DirecTV 6	DirecTV	Solar flare damage.	1997-04
Intelsat 19	Intelsat	Solar panel deployment failure.[10][11]	2012-06-01

References

1. "About Optus - Satellite Network". Optus.
2. "1300 Series Satellite Platform". Space Systems/Loral.
3. "FS-1300". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
4. "Space Service Loral (SSL): LS-1300". Gunter's Space Page.
5. "SSL Achieves Milestone, 100 Satellites Delivered Based on the 1300". sslmda.com. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
6. "Space Systems/Loral-Built DIRECTV 7S Satellite Successfully Launched". Space Systems/Loral.
7. "EchoStar Satellites and Orbital Slots". Echostar Knowledge Base. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
8. "Spacecraft Digest - Echostar 5". Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI).
9. de Selding, Peter B. (25 May 2011). "Balky Satellite Solar Panel Threatens Telesat’s Growth Plans in S. America". Space News. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
10. de Selding, Peter B. (2 June 2012). "Intelsat 19 Satellite Fails To Deploy Solar Array". Space News. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
11. de Selding, Peter B. (7 June 2012). "Probe of IS-19 Solar Array Problem Focuses on Sea Launch Rocket". Space News. Retrieved 7 June 2012.