Everything about Skynet Satellites totally explained
Skynet is a family of
military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the
UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the
British Armed Forces and to
NATO forces engaged on coalition tasks.
Models
Skynet 1
There were two Skynet 1 satellites; the first, launched in November
1969, failed after less than a year of operation. The apogee kick motor on the second failed, leaving it in
GTO.
Skynet 2
Following the failure of one of the Skynet 1 satellites, the timetable for the launch of the Skynet 2 system was delayed. When Skynet 2A was launched on
19 January 1974, the second stage of the
Delta rocket failed, placing the satellite in an unusable orbit. Despite not being in the right place, the ground stations successfully located and tracked the missing satellite, and were able to use telemetry readings from the solar panels to determine its alignment. Based on this analysis it was decided to use the alignment thrusters to deorbit the unit, and it was destroyed when it re-entered the earth's atmosphere on
27 January.
Skynet 2B was successfully launched on
23 November 1974.
The Skynet 2 satellites were assembled and tested at the
Marconi Space and Defence Systems establishment in Portsmouth, England, and were the first communication satellites built outside the US and USSR. The Skynet 2 system was very successful for its time, and remained in service for several years beyond the originally planned timeframe.
Skynet 3
Skynet 3 was abandoned in favour of the more advanced Skynet 4.
Skynet 4
Skynet 4 satellites have few similarities to the earlier generations. The cylindrical body of Skynet 1 and 2 was replaced by a large square body housing antennas with deployable solar-cell arrays. This marks the technological improvement from
spin-stabilisation, used in earlier cylindrical satellites, to
three-axis stabilisation using
momentum wheels and
reaction wheels controlling the satellite gyroscopically.
Skynet 4 were the first purely British built satellites, manufacture of 4A, 4B and 4C being carried out by
British Aerospace Dynamics (BAe Dynamics).
NATO adapted the design for the NATO IVA and IVB communication satellites, also manufactured by BAe Dynamics.
The improved Stage 2 satellites (4D, 4E and 4F) were built by
Matra Marconi Space and
Astrium to replace the earlier versions. Improvements included increased power and resistance to electronic jamming.
Skynet 4 provides
SHF and
UHF services using earth cover, wide area and spot beam coverage.
Skynet 5
Skynet 5 is the next generation of satellites, replacing the existing Skynet 4 Stage 2 system. It has been contracted via
PFI to a partnership between Paradigm Secure Communications and EADS Astrium, a European spacecraft manufacturer.
EADS Astrium will be responsible for the build and delivery of Skynet 5 satellites in orbit, whilst Paradigm will be responsible for provision of service to the MoD. Paradigm have also been contracted to provide communications services to NATO using spare capacity on the satellites.
The
Skynet 5 satellite weighs about 4700 kilograms, has two solar panels each about fifteen metres long, and has a power budget of five kilowatts. It has four steerable transmission dishes, and a phased-array receiver designed to allow
jamming signals to be cancelled out. They will also resist attempts to disrupt them with high-powered lasers
(External Link
).
The first of a constellation of three Skynet 5 vehicles was launched by a
Ariane 5 rocket at 22:03
GMT on
11 March 2007, in a launch shared with the Indian
INSAT 4B civil communications satellite, and
entered full service on
10 May 2007. The launch was delayed from
10 March due to malfunction of a launch pad deluge system.
Skynet 5A successully separated from its launch vehicle and Telemetry was acquired by its dedicated Control Centre approximately 40 minutes after launch.
The second Skynet 5 UK military communications satellite was launched at 22:06
GMT on
14 November 2007, from Kourou in French Guiana, aboard an
Ariane 5ECA rocket. This launch was delayed from
9 November due to problems with the electronics on one of the Solid Rocket Boosters, and
12 November due to a fueling problem with the launch pad. At time of launch the Ariane 5 ECA launcher set a new record on this mission, orbiting a total payload of more than 8,700 kg.
The programme marks a change of approach in the UK from traditional defence procurement methods to a services-based contract which also includes provision of leased ground terminals,
Reacher vehicles, the
Satellite Communications Onboard Terminal (SCOT) for ships, and the associated baseband equipment.
Initially two Skynet 5 satellites were to be built, with insurance covering any launch loss; the MoD later decided to have a third satellite built in advance, and later still to have the third satellite launched to serve as an on-orbit spare.
Security and safety
In early 1999,
Reuters reported that the Skynet system was breached by a group of hackers who issued blackmail threats against the MoD.
Duncan Campbell reported that the wire reports were wrong.
Satellite summary
Notes
- With technical assistance from Philco Ford
- Launched with Astra 1A, the first of the European Astra satellite constellation
- Marconi Space Systems merged to form Matra Marconi Space in 1990. MMS acquired BAe Space Systems in 1994.
- In 2000 MMS merged with DASA's space division to form Astrium.
- BAE Systems sold its 25% share of Astrium, renamed EADS Astrium
Further Information
Get more info on 'Skynet Satellites'.
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