Artist’s rendition of Morelos 3. Photo: Boeing

[Via Satellite 12-17-2015] Boeing has transferred on-orbit control of the Morelos 3 satellite, launched Oct. 2 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket, to the Mexican government. Based on the Boeing 702 High Power (HP) platform, the satellite is designed to serve Mexico’s national security, civil and humanitarian programs.

Boeing is responsible for the design and delivery of the integrated Mexsat system. The ground segment is comprised of two ground network and satellite control stations in Mexico, associated network operations and prototype user terminals.

The space segment was originally to be comprised of three spacecraft, but the second was lost due to an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton anomaly in May this year, reducing the constellation to two.

Boeing and the Mexican government will conduct field testing in the coming months and have already reported initial success with the addition of Morelos 3. The system is expected to be fully operational by mid-2016 and managed by Telecomunicaciones de Mexico on behalf of the Ministry of Communications and Transportation.