A communications satellite made by Maxar Technologies‘ SSL subsidiary for Hispasat has been delivered to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, where it will lift off aboard a SpaceX-built Falcon 9 rocket.
SSL said Tuesday the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite will provide communications services for television, broadband, corporate networks and other telecommunications applications in Europe, North Africa and the Americas.
The satellite is built to replace Hispasat 30W-4 and carry a photonics experiment that will examine the use of photonics for data routing within the vehicle.
The demonstration aims to test technology that could decrease satellite mass and boost payload performance.
SSL Group President Dario Zamarian said SSL worked with Hispasat to implement technology updates on Hispasat 30W-6.
Hispasat CEO Carlos Espinos noted that Hispasat 30W-6 is the company’s fourth SSL-made satellite and that the new spacecraft is meant to boost service offerings and capacity in covered regions.
Hispasat distributes content in Spanish and Portuguese through more than 1,250 television and radio channels.