Smiths Interconnect optical transceivers at the heart of SES-17 satellite
KOUROU, French Guiana - SES-17, the very high-throughput satellite (VHTS) in geosynchronous orbit, was successfully launched on October 22nd 2021 from Arianespace’s Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the SES-17 multi-mission Ka-band satellite will provide comprehensive coverage across the Americas, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. From its orbital slot of 67.1 degrees West, the very high throughput geostationary (GEO) satellite incorporating cutting-edge technologies is set to deliver the best connectivity experience for SES customers operating in the aeronautical, maritime, enterprise, and government markets.
Smiths Interconnect Canada Inc. (former Reflex Photonics Inc.), is proud to be the supplier of the SpaceABLE radiation-resistant optical transceivers that are the backbone of the SES-17 payload data path.
The SpaceABLE Series allows the interconnection and routing of an overall throughput of more than 15 Terabit/s and permit the use of the full Ka beam antennas bandwidth while being considerably lighter and more scalable than copper interconnects.
The SpaceABLE transceivers are engineered to withstand radiation doses >100 krad (Si). The modules operate at up to 28 Gbps per channel over an operating temperature range of –40 ºC to 85 ºC at ultra-low bit error rates, with an expected life of over 20 years.
SES-17 is a flexible satellite that incorporates cutting-edge technologies and is set to deliver the best connectivity experience for customers. The SES-17 all-digital payload uses Thales Alenia Space’s 5th generation digital transparent processor (DTP), that enables unique features such as unlimited switching/routing and frequency conversions while delivering up to ten times more throughput than traditional satellites. Furthermore, data path, bandwidth, and power can all be changed on the fly to meet a customer’s changing requirements and real-time traffic demands.
