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Boeing and Orbital Sciences Corp. have finished building three satellites that will be used to support police, military and emergency services in Mexico as part of the Mexsat project, the Orange County Register reported Monday.
William D’Urso writes Boeing has completed two 702HP geomobile satellites named Centenario and Morelos-3, while subcontractor Orbital made one GEOStar-2 satellite named Bicentenario for non-mobile communication services.
The contract, which was inked in 2010, shows a diversification of Boeing’s services as the company has previously focused on U.S. government and large commercial satellite contracts, an analyst said in the report.
Boeing has previously provided five satellites to Mexico between 1985 and 1998, and this current $1 billion project aims to revive a partnership between the company and Mexico, reports D’Urso.
“With all the remote areas that still exist around the world, we see that there is a future for these type of systems,” said Ron Dukat, Mexsat program manager, noting the need for satellite services beyond Europe.
Bicentenario was launched to space in December 2012 aboard Ariane 5, while Boeing’s satellites are being prepared in its El Segundo satellite factory for launch aboard Proton-M early 2015 and aboard Atlas V in 2016.
Boeing also set up ground stations in Iztapalapa and Hermosillo to relay signals between the satellites and various terminals, the report said.
