Inmarsat-6 F1

Inmarsat-6 F1 is a geostationary communications satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space for the British operator Inmarsat on the Eurostar 3000EOR bus. It is the first of the two Inmarsat-6 satellites and Inmarsat's first dual-payload spacecraft, carrying an L-band payload for the ELERA system and a Ka-band payload that adds capacity to the Global Xpress network. The L-band side is meant to raise network bandwidth fourfold over the older Inmarsat-4 satellites and serves voice calls, messaging and maritime distress traffic, while the Ka-band side carries video and other high-rate data. Electric propulsion lifts the satellite from transfer orbit to its final geosynchronous position, which saves launch mass, and its design life is 15 years. An H-IIA rocket launched it from Tanegashima on 22 December 2021. Its twin, Inmarsat-6 F2, was launched in February 2023 and suffered a power system failure in orbit.