Inmarsat confirmed the successful launch of the fourth, high-speed broadband communications satellite in its transformational Global Xpress (GX) constellation. Inmarsat-5 F4 joins the three GX satellites already in orbit, which have, since December 2015, been delivering services to users on land, at sea and in the air. The fourth satellite is expected to add further capacity to the GX network.
According to the company’s statement, the Inmarsat-5 F4 was launched by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket from the historic launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. Following satellite separation, telemetry was acquired from Perth ground station, a few minutes later.
The launch team from Inmarsat and Boeing Network & Space Systems, the manufacturer of I-5 F4, are now raising the spacecraft to a geostationary orbit, at which point the satellite will deploy its solar arrays and reflectors, and undergo payload testing.
“Delivering global commercial services over the GX network, which we achieved at the end of 2015, was only the start of our Global Xpress project. I-5 F4 augments the capabilities of GX and, alongside our existing L-band constellations, enables Inmarsat to provide guaranteed global connectivity to industries and governments worldwide”, said Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat.
