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Liftoff! NewSat celebrates satellite launch

Sep 12, 2014
Ready for launch

Ready for launch

There would have been cheers and relief inside a small building in Mawson Lakes this morning.

NewSat, a satellite communications company, delivering internet, voice, data and video communications using teleport infrastructure at Mawson Lakes and in Perth was about to launch its first and much-awaited satellite, Jabiru 2.

In the past it’s been a middle-man in the communications market, hiring bandwidth from other satellites, adding value services to it and on-selling that bandwidth.

Owning a satellite has long been the dream of NewSat’s chief executive Adrian Ballantine, his chief technology officer, David Ball, and vice president satellite strategy, Mike Kenneally (brother of radio broadcaster John Kenneally).

The launch of Jabiru 2 would also take the small company into global markets and that’s why NewSat staff, key partners and special guests watched the launch live on the internet.

Just as nervous were the customers of, and investors in NewSat.

And just after 7.30am Adelaide time, the boosters fired, the rocket lifted and everything went to plan at the French-owned Arianespace facility in French Guiana.

“The satellite was launched on designated Flight VA218, an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle from the European Spaceport in French Guiana,” an official announcement said, confirming what had been seen on iPads and PCs across Australia.

Jabiru-2’s 216MHz (6 x 36MHz) of Ku-band capacity will provide highly targeted coverage across Australia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, cashing in on growing demand for reliable and cost-effective communications from the oil, gas, mining, media, aeronautical, maritime, telecommunications and government sectors.

The satellite will now undergo in-orbit testing and will be placed in operational service in approximately four weeks.

A relieved David Ball said its was an exciting time for the Australian company.

“We would like to thank and congratulate MEASAT, Arianespace and Airbus Defence and Space for a successful launch and their fantastic support and partnership throughout this program,” he said.

“Jabiru-2 will enable NewSat to further deliver exceptional services across Australasia.

“The recent US$11.7 million Jabiru-2 contract with a leading global systems integrator is testament to this.

“Further, Jabiru-2’s superior capacity will enable NewSat to transition many existing services delivered via third-party suppliers across to Jabiru-2.”

Adrian Ballintine, NewSat’s founder, said it was a major milestone.

“The launch of Jabiru-2 is a significant event in NewSat’s evolution, further evidence of NewSat maturing as a company and another milestone achieved as NewSat expands into a global satellite operator.”

Launch failure would have been a huge setback.

Instead, it now appears that NewSat has come from virtually nowhere to being one of Australia’s largest companies.

Next up is Jabiru 1, due to lift off in 2015.

On the outskirts of Adelaide this morning the champagne corks were popping.

You can watch a replay of the launch here:

FRENCH GUIANA ARIANE LAUNCH

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