TAMPA, Fla. — Ovzon will likely need one other deadline extension to maintain priority spectrum rights for Ovzon 3, the Swedish satcom service provider’s first broadband satellite now slated to launch no sooner than late 2023.
The corporate said June 22 that Ovzon 3 will miss a July-September launch window because of ultimate assembly and testing delays, along with work taking longer than expected to vary launch providers from Arianespace to SpaceX.
Ovzon 3 was already susceptible to missing a Dec. 31 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deadline to begin providing services from its designated geostationary orbit slot if it was deployed late within the previous launch window.
Since the Maxar Technologies-built satellite will depend on electric propulsion, it is going to take several months to climb to its slot at 59.7 degrees East after reaching geostationary transfer orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Ovzon announced in February that it had switched launch providers after manufacturing delays caused Ovzon 3 to miss a ride on one in every of Arianespace’s last remaining Ariane 5 missions.
A month later, Ovzon said the satellite’s Dec. 15, 2022, Bring into Use deadline had been prolonged a 12 months by the ITU, a United Nations affiliate.
Ovzon 3 was originally planned to launch in 2021 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy before the corporate secured a more attractive take care of Arianespace and encountered manufacturing delays which were attributed to pandemic-related supply chain issues.
Systems-level dynamics tests that Maxar is attributable to start in early July will significantly reduce schedule risk and enable Ovzon to offer a more accurate launch date, Ovzon said in a June 22 news release announcing the delay.
Ovzon described these tests because the last major milestone for finalizing the spacecraft.
“Maxar is in the ultimate stages of integration and test on Ovzon 3 after addressing modifications related to the change of launch vehicle,” Maxar spokesperson Mark Lewis said in response to questions on the satellite’s latest delay.
“Like Ovzon has said, we’re working together to make sure the satellite is prepared for launch as soon as possible.”
Per Norén, Ovzon’s CEO, said in an announcement that he doesn’t anticipate any further lengthy delays for this system.
“We’re excited to be on this final phase and for the general top quality of the satellite, but this just isn’t the time for haste nor being overly optimistic concerning the importance of the remaining tasks,” he said.
Ovzon’s current broadband business relies on leasing capability from other satellite operators.
Despite the delays, Norén said the operational and industrial model for its first satellite stays solid and is “more relevant today than ever.”
Ovzon said the satellite’s latest delay would also not affect its current industrial activities.
The corporate has previously said Ovzon-3’s manufacturing delays have increased the project’s overall cost by around $25 million.