Sicral 1 Military Satellite, ItalyIn its 61st consecutive success, an Ariane rocket lifted Italy's Sicral 1 satellite and the British Skynet 4F spacecraft into geostationary transfer orbit from Europe's Guyana Space Centre. The launch, the 139th flight of an Ariane rocket, was the first time the vehicle lifted two military spacecraft at once into orbit. SICRAL EHF COMMUNICATIONSSicral 1 is Italy's first military satellite. It is designed to operate for 10 years from 16.2° east longitude and to provide communications to fixed and mobile terminals operated by Italy's military. Sicral is Europe's first venture into Extremely High Frequency (EHF) broadcast frequencies. Italian officials have said the satellite has capacity in EHF, as well as Super High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency, permitting interoperability with US and other European satellite systems. PROJECT TIMESCALE The project was first conceived in 1996. The launch was successfully completed in 2001. MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMMEThe Sicral programme has been budgeted at about €500 million ($458.8 million). In addition to the cost of the construction and launch of Sicral 1, this figure includes the construction, by Alenia Spazio, of a duplicate Sicral skeletal platform, or bus, and long-lead-time items for a Sicral 2 electronics payload. The figure also includes a Sicral ground control centre and 107 fixed and mobile terminals, including several to be placed on Italian jet-fighter aircraft. The Italian Authorities said that Sicral 2 would be built within 18 months if Sicral 1 failed to operate as designed. The satellite that will activate the new network of military telecommunications was realised by the Sitab consortium. The consortium is constituted from Alenia Spazio (70%), FiatAvio (20%) and Telespazio (10%). The orbiting of Sicral successfully meets the challenge laid down to the Italian space industry in 1996 by the Defence Administration thanks to a considerable effort in terms of technology, design, organisation and construction. LAUNCH AND PROPULSIONFiatAvio is responsible for the launch service, the satellite propulsion system and some ground equipment (time and frequency, computers and shelters). The propulsion system for Sicral, designed and built by FiatAvio gives the satellite the impulse needed for insertion in the planned geostationary orbit and for attitude control during its operational life. BRACCIANO CONTROL CENTRETelespazio was made responsible by the Defence Administration for the management of all the activities necessary for the complete operability of the Bracciano Control Centre in the context of the Sicral programme. It also guarantees the full functionality of the entire system: satellite, orbital management and control centre, communication networks and terminals. Moreover, Telespazio manages the LEOP (Launch and Early Orbit Phase) activities of Sicral: the collective operational phases of satellite command and control carried out from when the spacecraft is released from the launcher up to final orbital position and required altitude.CONTRACTORS As prime contractor in the Sitab consortium, Alenia Spazio has co-ordinated the activities of the companies involved in the programme; approx. 150, covering virtually the entire Italian space industry.
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  The Sicral satellite was launched on the same rocket as the UK's Skynet 4F. | |
 Earth view from Sicral-1 satellite. | ||
 Sicral satellite before being launched. | ||
 Checking the Sicral satellite before the launch. | ||
 Structure of the Sicral system. | ||
 Ground segment of the Sicral system. |
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