World’s first all-electric propulsion satellite ABS-3A commences service

Posted on 14 Sep 2015 by Tim Brown
An artists' rendering of the world's all-electric propsulsion satellite, ABS-3A, on-orbit and operating in space - image courtesy of Boeing

The world’s first all-electric propulsion satellite, built by Boeing for Bermuda-based telecommunications operator ABS, is now operational after an on-orbit handover on August 31.

The ABS-3A, a 702SP (small platform) satellite, expands ABS’ communications services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The satellite, the first ever to feature an all-electric propulsion satellite system, was launched on March 1 as part of a Falcon 9 rocket mission by SpaceX. The ABS-3A spacecraft’s all-electric xenon-ion propulsion system contains a sufficient…

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