PARIS, Sept. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GapSat, a leader in providing interim satellite solutions, has commissioned a geosynchronous satellite from Terran Orbital Corporation, a leading aerospace provider of small satellites and services.

GapSat-1 is a multi-band system offering wide band solutions in C-band, Ku-band, Ka-band and Q/V bands.  The spacecraft will be injected directly into the geosynchronous arc.  The system is equipped with an electric propulsion system that optimizes usable payload mass.  The spacecraft is scheduled for launch in the third quarter 2020.

The Ka-band payload features wideband spot beams, suitable for significant traffic-carrying capability. These Ka-band spot beams are fully steerable across the visible arc promoting Internet and other high demand services.  The use of the V/Q bands helps push the envelope of wideband services that can be offered via satellite.  GapSat is proud to be part of this new market development effort.

Small, geosynchronous satellites are particularly well-suited to increase the capacity and the connectivity to well-defined target areas.  Less CAPEX intensive by nature, this new class of satellites offers unique opportunities to scale up capacity and explore new business models for established operators and new market entrants ensuring a faster allocation of the full capacity of the satellite.

Gregg Daffner, Chief Executive Officer at GapSat, commented: "We have been working on developing our own satellites for several years and it is terrific to have finally found a credible partner to execute on a technical solution that meets our business objectives. Terran Orbital showed a unique business approach defining a highly flexible, reconfigurable satellite at a cost that closes our business case and will provide our customers with the tailored capacity they need."

About GapSat
GapSat offers interim satellite solutions fulfilling the short to medium-term needs of satellite operators through provision of underutilized in orbit assets or development of new satellites for specialty missions.  GapSat's services are frequently used when there is a need for a short/medium term augmentation of capacity at an existing location, when a satellite fails at launch to reach the desired orbit, when there is a catastrophic or partial failure of an in-orbit satellite, or if a new orbit location demands initiation of service.  GapSat will soon offer Bring-Into-Use (BIU) services with its GapSat-1 spacecraft.

About Terran Orbital
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Terran Orbital is a leading innovator and provider of end-to-end nanosatellite and microsatellite services and solutions for U.S. government agencies and commercial enterprises.  The Company is a pioneer in the miniaturization of space technologies, making space responsive, with the ability to quickly and economically design, build and launch state-of-the-art satellites.

SOURCE Terran Orbital; GapSat