Hosted Payloads

Hosted payloads from Orbital Sciences Corporation enable the science, technology demonstration and national security communities access to space for small payloads at a fraction of the cost of typical space missions. These payloads can be hosted on spacecraft developed by Orbital for other missions where the primary mission does not require full use of payload capacity over the life of the spacecraft. The spacecraft owner/operator works with Orbital and the hosted payload provider to make use of the available extra spacecraft resources.

GEOStar™ Bus Hosted Payloads

Orbital's GEOStar Bus GEO communications platform takes advantage of the high frequency of commercial satellite launches and the excess resources that typically exist on a commercial communications satellite to provide frequent and low-cost access to space for small payloads. It is projected that over the next few years, a large majority of launches (actual and planned) will be commercial GEO satellites. Additionally, payload hosting on Orbital's GEOStar Bus will be available on approximately a yearly basis for future launches through 2016. This robust launch pace and the quick turnaround and strict schedule requirements of commercial spacecraft programs (typically 24 months) ensures efficient access to space with minimal chance for delays. For example, the SES-2 commercial communications satellite features Orbital's GEOStar Bus with the U.S. Air Force Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP). CHIRP is a wide-field of view sensor which was integrated onto the satellite to validate space-based infared technologies for the U.S. Air Force from geosynchronous orbit.

GEOStar Bus Hosted Payload Specifications

• Payload Mass Capability:
  Up to 150 kg (negotiable based on size of primary payload)


• Available Payload Power:
  500 W - 1000 W (Configurable dependent upon hosted payload mission requirements)

Iridium NEXT Hosted Payloads

Orbital has been selected by Thales Alenia Space to assemble, integrate and test 81 spacecraft for the Iridium NEXT program including 66 operational spacecraft, six on-orbit spares, and nine ground-backup spacecraft. Orbital’s responsibilities also include payload integration, including hosted payloads, and launch integration services. In a separate agreement with Iridium, Orbital also acquired the rights to 20% of the network’s hosted payload capacity, allowing the company to market this unique capability to civil government, military and intelligence agency customers.

The cross-linked 66 satellite constellation forms a global network in space allowing communications from a ground or airborne user from any location on Earth to virtually anywhere else on Earth. Hosted payloads enjoy the interconnectivity of the 66 satellite Iridium network and near-real time relay of data to and from space, providing the end user global coverage at a fraction of the price of a dedicated mission. The end user receives hosted payload data via an IP interface to Iridium facilities, which precludes the need for customer-owned ground stations. Additional benefits to hosted payload missions include persistence, revisit capabilities and resilience.

Iridium NEXT Hosted Payload Specifications

• Payload Mass Capability:
  Up to 50 kg


• Available Payload Power:
  50 Watts average; 200 Watts peak