Bulgaria will have its own satellite BulgariaSat 1
Bulgaria shall be included among the countries, which have their own satellite infrastructure. During this year, will be carried into space a new telecommunications satellite called BulgariaSat 1.
Bulsatcom, a leading telecommunications operator and the largest provider of pay-television in Bulgaria, in September 2014 ordered the making of geostacionárního communication satellite. The satellite was named BulgariaSat 1.
Production of the first ever Bulgarian satellite has been entrusted to the company Space Systems/Loral (SSL) that it was manufactured by SSL 1300 platform. For a cosmic apparatus was selected rocket SpaceX Falcon 9. According to the earlier reports of the satellite BulgariaSat 1 should be played by the end of 2016. Number of starts was at the end of last year but postponed due to the September accident at Baikonur, where SpaceX rocket exploded with an Israeli satellite Amos 6.
The Mission of the BulgariaSat 1 will provide DTH services and data communication services in South-East Europe and in other countries of Europe. Satellite of Bulgaria will provide satellite communication solutions for the broadcast, Telecom, corporate and Government clients.
BulhariaSat 1 will offer a total of 30 transponders in the Ku band and three in the BSS FSS band with the band (downlink) from 11.3 to 12.6 GHz bandwidth transponders will be 33 and 36 MHz. Satellite should provide the service for at least 15 years, with a projected lifespan of fuel to more than 18 years of age.
map No. 1-a satellite Footprint BulgariaSat 1, European volume, Ku-band (maps: BulgariaSat)
The satellite will be parked on the new position of 1.9 ° E where it will provide the service through two different volumes cover-European and Balkan. While the first will provide coverage to most of Europe (excluding Northern Europe and the Baltic States), Balkan volume will be directed to South-Eastern Europe. For viewers on the territory of the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be interesting both volumes. In the European volume, the two countries are in the main zone coverage and to receive dish will suffice from diameter approx. 60 cm, in the second case in the Balkan volume will be in the main zone of Slovakia and Moravia. The signal through the Czech Republic will gradually decrease. But this is a preliminary maps of the coverage. The final maps will be specified on the basis of the measurements before placing the satellite into commercial operation.
map No. 2-Footprint of the satellite BulgariaSat 1, Balkan volume, Ku-band (maps: BulgariaSat)
Some selected technical parameters of the BulhariaSat 1
plot the satellite: first half of the year 2017 (provisional date)
rocket: Falcon 9
the planned position: 1.9 ° E
the satellite manufacturer: SSL
SSL 1300 platform:
frequency band (downlink): 11.3 to 12.6 GHz
transponder of polarisation: linear-horizontal, vertical
transponder bandwidth: 33 and 36 MHz
coverage: Europe, Balkans