The Thaicom 8 satellite. Photo: Orbital ATK

[Via Satellite 05-08-2015] Thaicom has awarded Kratos Defense and Security Solutions with two contracts for ground systems to support the upcoming Thaicom 8 satellite.

The first contract is for a Satellite Control Center. Kratos Integral Systems International (ISI) will provide the satellite control system based on the company’s Epoch command and control and Oasys flight dynamics solutions. The Epoch Integrated Product Suite (IPS) is an all-in-one satellite fleet management system with the ability to simultaneously control multiple satellites from different manufacturers from a single consolidated system.

Kratos ISI’s U.K team will provide the Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) earth station, which will include an 11 meter C-band turning head antenna with a monopulse tracking system and fully redundant RF system. Procured through the second contract, the system will support both nominal on-station and emergency TT&C operations with a frequency-agile RF system and continuous wide-angle steering, combined with pointing and tracking from its precision drives system.

Built by Orbital ATK on the GeoStar 2 platform, the Thaicom 8 satellite will carry 24 Ku-band transponders to serve customers in Thailand, South Asia and Africa. The satellite is schedule to launch in the first half of 2016 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.