Visit to SES Americom
Teleport
SES Americom owns the ground based satellite communications
facility near Brewster, Wa. The organization handles a tremendous
load of data communications in the form of digital television broadcasts and
internet connectivity.
Educationally, this trip served as a concrete example of the utility of
Electromagnetic Radiation and established career connections for regional high
tech employment.
Looking at a slightly dated connectivity map for communications channels.
Discussing the “Sea Launch” system and its triumphs and failures.
Sea Launch is a joint venture between Boeing and the Russian Space agency to launch satellites with old ICBM’s from a converted oil drilling platform. During our visit, they were in final preparations to launch a new satellite (some 12 hours later) to complement their network.
A live video feed from the Sea Launch ship heading into position.
The students take time to show us where the launch will take place. (Directly on the equator)
Heading down to the main Antenna array. We were informed that the antenna could accommodate 121 channels of data at 45 Mbps for each channel. (It’s like having nearly 24,000 home high speed internet connections running at the same time.)
Looking around the main control room nested underneath the large antenna.
Another view of the Control Room.
Here is a small VIDEO CLIP of the control room.
Group photo underneath the main antenna.
Here is a small VIDEO CLIP of us looking over the antenna.
Parting shot with our resident expert, Bill Collier.
UPDATE!!
Launch
Success! Galaxy 18 goes into orbit just hours after our visit!
