Satellite manufacturers are opening the door to new hosted payload deals by showcasing the abilities of their new satellite bus models. Boeing Satellite Systems International (BSSI) has been pushing several new satellite buses onto the market in order to expand its ability to meet a greater variety of requirements. Its most recent release came in March 2012, when it announced that it had sold 702SP electric propulsion satellites to Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satmex.
   Many saw the roll-out as a BSSI President Steve O’Neill, however, said that that the 702 Medium-Power (702MP) satellite his company introduced in 2009 created more opportunities specifically for hosted payloads.
   "The release of the 702MP allowed us to sign a four-satellite deal with Intelsat. Not only did that deal lead to the first 702MP satellite, but it also led to two UHF hosted payloads on IS-22 and IS-27," O’Neill said. "We delivered the first satellite, IS-22, in 29 months from the time we received the order. It has now been launched and is on orbit. We anticipate turning it over to Intelsat for operations very soon. We have done three things for providing increased value to the government: a hosted payload that provides capability much faster; capability at much lower costs; and faster access to space."
   One of the most attractive features of a hosted payload partnership is that it not only benefits the customer, but also the commercial satellite operator. O’Neill said that a hosted payload improves a commercial business case by generating additional revenue and reducing investment risk by providing downside revenue protection.
   "Intelsat was able to sell the UHF hosted capacity to Australia on IS-22, thereby generating significant additional revenue and giving more protection to shareholders on downside risk," said O’Neill. "In 2010, we improved our service offerings again. The best example of that improvement is the Inmarsat I-5 contract. That was a three-satellite firm contract for an all-commercial Ka-band solution with options for a fourth and fifth satellite. We added additional value by providing a hosted military Ka-band payload on all the satellites and Boeing agreed upfront on a take-or-pay distribution service contract for military Ka-band. From Inmarsat’s perspective, we believe that was a really big deal in helping them close their business case."
   ATK is another company that is looking to new satellite buses as a way of strengthening its market presence. It recently expanded its product line of small, agile satellite buses designed for a wide range of missions in civil, national security and commercial applications in both near-term and long-term markets. ATK’s expanded A-series product line consists of four basic configurations: the A100, A200, A500 and A700 models, with elevated platforms of A150, A250 and A550, which aim to provide broader capability and flexibility for customers. The products are designed for a range of mission requirements based on mission class, design life, propulsion, pointing accuracy, payload mass and launch compatibility. ATK added that the A series is compatible with most launch vehicles.
   “Our expanded family of space platforms will enable us to capitalize on the up-swing we expect to see in a number of our targeted market segments. Our diversified, balanced approach across multiple markets will take best advantage of the increase in microsat missions, continued demand for small, rapidly-developed spacecraft and the game-changing, on-orbit satellite servicing market,” ATK Space Systems Vice President and General Manager Tom Wilson said.
   The ATK A100 is ATK’s small bus offering for microsats and nanosats. The ATK A200 series features ATK’s Responsive Space Modular Bus (RSMB), which aims to provide considerable power, precision pointing and significant data throughput for sophisticated military and scientific payloads. The ATK A500 series offers a High End Modular Bus (HEMB) that allows for increased payload complexity and size, as well as extended life. The HEMB is the platform selected for the DARPA Phoenix mission to conduct on-orbit satellite servicing and repurposing. The ATK A700 series bus is the largest mission class and is the foundation of the ViviSat Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV).