The Satellite: Agila2
 Designed, built and launched by Space Systems/Loral, Agila2 delivers broadcast television, telephone and data services to an area that covers the Asia-Pacific region. It can transmit more than 190 channels of high-fidelity digital programming to cable companies and home satellite dishes as well as handle more than 50,000 simultaneous two-way telephone conversations.
Agila2, with 10KW of on-board power, is one of the most powerful satellites serving the Asia-Pacific region. It is a typical three-axis stabilized satellite, whose modular design has proven its worth during more than 20 years of cumulative on-orbit service amassed by SS/L satellites to date.
For enhanced reliability, Agila2 is augmented with redundant equipment, fail-safe self-monitoring satellite control system, flight-proven control algorithms, automated satellite control functions capable of using block, manual and time-tagged commands for routine operations and station-keeping maneuvers as well as automatic rain fade compensation to assume a robust link for the satellite traffic.
| AGILA2 INFORMATION |
| MODEL |
Space Systems / Loral FS 1300 |
| LIFE |
15 years |
| ORBITAL SLOT |
146°E |
| PAYLOAD |
C-Band, Extended C-Band, Ku-Band |
| |
C-Band |
Extended C-Band |
Ku-Band |
| NUMBER OF TRANSPONDERS |
24 |
6 |
24 |
| BANDWIDTH |
36 Mhz |
36 Mhz |
36 Mhz |
| UPLINK FREQUENCY |
5927 - 6417 MHz |
6587 - 6723 MHz |
14021 - 14497 MHz |
| DOWNLINK FREQUENCY |
3702 - 4192 MHz |
3562 - 3698 MHz |
12203 - 12679 MHz |
| POLARIZATION |
Dual linear orthogonal |
| EIRP |
42 dbW peak |
42 dbW peak |
55 dbW peak |
| 34 dbW at EOC |
34 dbW at EOC |
48 dbW at EOC |
| TWTA SIZE |
27 W |
27 W |
110 W |
Agila2 supports regional and international networks, and its coverage extends to over 3 billion people throughout Asia. It also has a spotbeam in Hawaii, where teleport operators receive and turn-around Agila2 signals to the US via satellite or submarine cables.
MSC GROUND FACILITIES
MSC has two state-of-the-art control facilities providing support for Agila2: a main and a backup hub.
 Mabuhaysat Subic Space Center
 |
The Mabuhay Space Center at Subic Bay
Freeport Zone |
|
The Subic Space Center is a pioneer satellite communications facility in the Philippines providing tracking, telemetry and control for Agila2 in geostationary orbit. It houses the required equipment (both hardware and software) that provide satellite control, satellite orbit determination and prediction, on-station operations and payload and client monitoring.
Subic Space Center is manned by highly trained resident satellite controllers and engineers working on a 24/7 operating schedule. Our controllers and engineers periodically correct Agila2's altitude and conduct East-West and North-South stationkeeping maneuvers, thus ensuring the satellite's proper orientation and orbital position. They are also responsible for the routine maintenance of the antennas and other equipment housed in the Space Center. In addition, commands from the satellite control center can switch transponders in and out of service, control the charging and discharging of the batteries, activate backup equipment and engage other control functions.
The Network Operations Center (NOC), under the Engineering Department, is located in Subic. The group is responsible for monitoring the operation and utilization of Agila2 transponders. Its main function is to ensure the efficient use of both C- and Ku-band transponders by monitoring the signals of all users so that they are operating within nominal power level.
Mabuhaysat Zamboanga Space Center
 |
| Zamboanga facility dish at twilight:
pointed to Agila2 at all times. |
|
For contingency purposes, the main functions of Subic Space Center is duplicated at the Zamboanga Space Center, albeit on a smaller scale. Redundancy equipment covering baseband, radio frequency and antennas are incorporated in the Zamboanga Space Center. It is also equipped with an uninterruptible power supply system and a generator to ensure continuous power supply.
Our Zamboanga Space Center is manned by a satellite engineer who keeps the facility ready for any contingency action. Periodically, engineers from Subic Space Center visit for any upgrades. |
