17 October 2012

ATK awards Emcore $5m solar panel contract for AMOS-6 telecom satellite

Emcore Corp of Albuquerque, NM, USA, which makes compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber-optic and solar power markets, has been awarded a solar panel manufacturing contract by aerospace, defense and commercial products firm ATK of Arlington, VA, USA for the AMOS-6 commercial telecoms satellite (planned for launch in early 2015). Solar panels populated with Emcore’s most advanced ZTJ triple-junction solar cells will power the AMOS-6 spacecraft, which is manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Operated by Spacecom, AMOS-6 is to be co-located at the 4˚W orbital position with the AMOS-2 and AMOS-3 satellites. It will provide steerable Ku-band with Pan-European and Middle East coverage, and a Ka-band beam for broadband services in Africa and Europe. The AMOS satellite fleet, beginning with the AMOS-1 in 1996, provides broadcasting and communications services to DTH (direct-to-home) television operators, TV broadcasters and programmers, government and corporate organizations, and VSAT (very small aperture terminal) network operators.

ATK will adapt its space-proven modular PUMA array, from GPS IIF and Orbital’s Star2 GEO line, to provide power to AMOS-6, according to Dave Messner, VP & general manager of ATK Deployables business in Goleta, CA, USA. “We look forward to delivering over 10kW of end-of-life power using Emcore’s solar cell technology,” he adds. 

“The manufacture of the AMOS-6 solar panels will reinforce our heritage in the telecom satellite business and allow us to pursue future opportunities in that market,” reckons Brad Clevenger, general manager of Emcore’s Photovoltaics Division. “Emcore greatly values our long-standing business relationship with ATK.” In December 2011, ATK awarded Emcore a contract to provide solar panels for powering a cargo delivery spacecraft for Orbital Sciences Corp’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

Tags: Emcore ATK

Visit: www.emcore.com

Visit: www.atk.com