Norspace hardware in 100 satellites in orbit

Two successful satellite launches at the end of last February have brought the number of satellites successfully placed into orbit carrying hardware from Norspace to 100. Close to 10 000 SAW and other microcircuit devices and almost 400 kg of electronics hardware supplied by Norspace have been successfully placed in orbit on board these satellites. The first satellite carrying electronic components delivered by Norspace was launched in April 1989. The two satellites launched in February were the Multi-functional Transport Satellite-1 Replacement (MTSAT-1R) launched by an H-2A Rocket from the Tanegashima launch base in Japan on 26th February and the XM-3 satellite launched By Sea Launch on 28th February. The MTSAT-1R was built by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, CA (USA). The XM-3 satellite was built by Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, CA (USA) with a payload supplied by Alcatel Space of Paris, France. The MTSAT-1R satellite contains several equipments supplied by Norspace for use in the communications payload (see picture). The XM-3 contains SAW filters, also for the communications payload. The 100 satellites with Norspace hardware in orbit cover commercial satellites built by satellite manufacturers from all over the world as well as non-commercial satellites built for government agencies. They include all the major suppliers in the industry: Alcatel Space (F) Alenia Spazio (It) Boeing Satellite Systems (USA) EADS Astrium (UK, F, D) EADS-ST (F) European Space Agency (NL) ISRO (India) Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (USA) Mitsubishi Electric Company (Japan) Northrop-Grumman Space Technology (USA) Space System/Loral (USA)Alcatel Space