Inmarsat reports that it has successfully completed the Critical Design Review for the Inmarsat-5 satellites, under contract with Boeing, which will form the backbone of its Global Xpress Ka-band network.
Inmarsat says that progress has been made on the manufacturing of key elements of the first spacecraft, including structure, propulsion systems and flight hardware.
As such the company is confident that the Inmarsat-5 F1 is on schedule for completion and launch in 2013.
In parallel, plans for construction of the Proton launch vehicle which will lift Inmarsat-5 into orbit will be discussed at a meeting with ILS and the vehicle manufacturers Khrunichev in early December.
"This is a fundamental milestone and marks the transition of the project from a design and engineering phase to a manufacturing, integration and test phase," said Franco Carnevale, Inmarsat vice-president, space segment.
"The review was completed earlier than scheduled, and the conclusion of the CDR board was that the design is mature and there are comfortable margins with all key performance parameters."
Thedigitalship