Bicentenario is the first of three Mexican satellites for the nation’s Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) that aims to enhance communications for domestic, military, civil and humanitarian needs. The hybrid C-band and Ku-band communications satellite is based on Orbital’s GEOStar-2 platform. Prime contractor Boeing will build the remainder of the order, two 702HP geomobile satellites, for launches scheduled in 2013 and 2014.

   “The Mexsat team has achieved this milestone thanks to a strong partnership between Orbital, Boeing and the SCT,” Orbital Senior Vice President of Satellite Communications Christopher Richmond said in a statement. “We look forward to supporting our customer through post-launch testing and subsystem deployments and into operation.”

   Boeing will integrate the Mexsat network, which will include the three satellites, two ground telemetry and control sites, associated network operations systems, and reference user terminals. In addition to the Bicentenario, Orbital is providing the command and control ground equipment and software for the Bicentenario, as well as the associated training and operational documentation.