alphasatellite

Alphasat, officially Inmarsat-4A F5 and commonly known as Alphasat, is a telecommunications satellite built for Inmarsat. It was developed with support from the European Space Agency under the ARTES program and serves as a technology demonstrator for high-capacity Ka-band communications intended to underpin Inmarsat's Global Xpress network. The spacecraft was built by EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) on the Inmarsat-4 platform and carries a standard two-band communications suite along with an experimental Ka-band payload to test new capabilities for commercial and government use.

Launch and orbit: Launched on 25 July 2013 by an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, Alphasat was placed into geostationary orbit and integrated into Inmarsat's fleet to provide broadband maritime, aviation, and governmental services.

Impact and significance: As a technology demonstrator, Alphasat validated Ka-band technologies and services that formed the backbone of Inmarsat's GX network. The mission helped extend global connectivity with higher data rates and more flexible service offerings. Alphasat is designed to have an operational life of about 15 years and remains a significant component of the Inmarsat constellation as a bridge between legacy services and next-generation broadband capabilities.