EMS Technologies to Supply Antenna Pointing Equipment for ViaSat-1

July 31, 2008

EMS Technologies, Inc. announced that its Defense & Space Systems Division (D&SS) was selected for a contract from Space Systems/Loral, to provide antenna pointing equipment for ViaSat-1, expected to be the world's highest capacity broadband satellite when it launches over North America in 2011. 

SS/L serves as the prime contractor to build the new Ka-band satellite, designed to significantly expand the quality, capability and availability of high-speed broadband satellite services for North American consumers and enterprises. Compared to current Ka-band broadband satellites, the ViaSat-1 satellite is expected to increase the amount of capacity by more than a factor of 10.

 “EMS is pleased to build on our longstanding relationship with Space Systems/Loral in the commercial satellite arena with this latest project,” says David Smith, vice president and general manager of D&SS. “EMS’s hardware is designed to keep the antenna tracking on its intended target.  A key EMS competitive differentiator is that our technology allows you to multiplex two or more antennas into a single tracking receiver on the satellite. This configuration offers significant savings on size, weight and power and, ultimately, cost.”

This win builds on EMS’s extensive heritage in autotrack modulator equipment for commercial satellite programs, including other Ka-band satellites and satellites used for direct-to-home television. EMS expects to deliver final hardware to SS/L by June 2009.