# Satmex

Satmex (Satélites Mexicanos) was a company set up in Mexico in the mid-1990s through 2014 that operated space communication satellites that provide services to the Americas. In 2014, it was acquired by Eutelsat, and Eutelsat now operates the three satellites formerly operated by Satmex.

## History

SATMEX existed as a company from approximately 1997 until 2014, when it was acquired by Eutelsat. At the time of the acquisition in 2014, SATMEX had three operating satellites prior to the sale to Eutelsat: Satmex 8, Satmex 6, Satmex 5. The three communication satellites provide local, regional and continental coverage in C band and K$_u$ band.

### Timeline

2016 The Eutelsat 117 West B (former SATMEX9) was launched with the similar ABS 2A, and the pair was operational on June 15, 2016.
2015 Eutelsat 115 West B (former SATMEX 7) was ordered by Satmex but after the acquisition by Eutelsat was renamed. It was built on Boeing 702SP satellite bus that was launched in a pair with the similar ABS 3A satellite. The first pair was launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle on March 2, 2015.
2014 On May 21 Eutelsat Americas realigned its satellite names with the Eutelsat brand: Satmex 5 = EUTELSAT 115 West A; Satmex 6 = EUTELSAT 113 West A; Satmex 8 = EUTELSAT 117 West A.
March 7 Satmex was renamed Eutelsat Americas.
On January 2 Eutelsat Communications announced closure of the transaction to acquire 100% of the share capital of Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (“Satmex”) having obtained all required government and regulatory approvals. As previously communicated, the transaction amounts to 831 million$. Based in Mexico, Satmex operates three satellites at contiguous positions, 113° West (Satmex 6), 114.9° West (Satmex 5) and 116.8° West (Satmex 8) that cover 90% of the population of the Americas.
2010 The restructuring process of SATMEX begins, as well as the construction of the SATMEX_8 satellite to replace SATMEX_5.
2009 Development and implementation of the first Strategic Map, that consolidates the company's strategic objectives for the next five years. Thus allowing SATMEX to become one of the preeminent satellite companies in the world by efficiently employing its resources for the benefit of SATMEX and its shareholders.
2001 SATMEX is certified with ISO 9001:2000 in Engineering and Satellite Operations including the Traffic and Customer Support Departments. This certification accounts for our two control centers, engineering and satellite operations, access and satellite monitoring and customer support. The first SATMEX's Users Group meeting in Cancun, Mexico.
2000 Internationalization and growth of revenue base. Robust participation of the company in financial and industry forums worldwide. Solidaridad 1 is lost due to a short circuit generated by the growth of tin filaments in the redundant processor.
1998 The new management team isincorporated to the company. New administration tools and executive management are integrated to consolidate a new SATMEX. On December 5, SATMEX_5 is launched into space aboard an Ariane 4L launch vehicle departing from Kourou, French Guiana.
1997 Hughes is asked to build the Morelos 3 (today SATMEX_5) with coverage for the C and Ku bands throughout the Americas. June 26: The Fixed Satellite Services section of Telecomm is registered under Mexican law and was constituted as the company Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (SATMEX). The company is still owned by the Mexican State. After performing a public tenure, the alliance integrated by Principia and Loral Space & Communications acquires 75% of SATMEX. The Mexican government owns 25% with non-voting capabilities in the council. SATMEX attracts an investment of U.S. $645 million to Mexico.
1995 – 1996 Beginning of the privatization process of the Fixed Satellite Services sector of Telecomm.
1994 October 7: Launch of Solidaridad 2 aboard an Ariane 4 from Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite successfully reaches its orbital position at 113 ° W. In May opens de Satellite Control Center in Hermosillo
1993 November 19: Launch of Solidaridad 1 aboard an Ariane 4 from Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite successfully reaches its orbital position of 109.2 ° W.
1991 May: Telecomm hires Hughes for the construction of the Solidaridad Satellites. It consists of two HS-601 geostationary satellites with tri-axial stabilization, which were designed to provide C-band services in México, the southern United States and the rest of Latin America, with Ku-band services in Mexico and the United States.
1989 Telecomm (Mexico Telecommunications) is created, a decentralized body becomes the Morelos Satellite System Operator.
1985 June 17: Morelos I is launched from Cape Canaveral aboard the 51-G crewed mission of NASA. The satellite successfully reaches the 113 ° W orbital position, with national coverage. Construction of Iztapalapa Control Center, located in Mexico City. November 27: Morelos II was launched from Cape Canaveral aboard the shuttle Atlantis (OV-104), on NASA's crewed mission 61-B, in which the first Mexican astronaut participated. The satellite occupied the orbital position of 116.8 ° W, with national coverage.
1982 The Communications and Transports Secretary (SCT) hires Hughes to build the Mexican satellite system "Morelos" (two HS-376 geostationary satellites, stabilized by rotation).
1970 Capacity of an Intelsat satellite is used for domestic services.
1968 Mexico becomes a subscriber of the Intelsat system. The first Mexican satellite facilities in the state of Hidalgo. The transmission of the 1968 Summer Olympics is made through color television.

## Ground infrastructure

SATMEX has two different types of Control Centers. The Satellite Control Centers are responsible for the operation of Satmex's satellite fleet, and they are located in Mexico City and in Hermosillo, Sonora.
The Communications Control Centers (CCC) monitor the signals sent through Satmex's satellites and verify that users are operating within the assigned parameters. Satmex has Communications Control Centers in its corporate offices and in the both Satellite Control Centers.

## Satellite systems

| Name | Manufacturer | Start | Rocket | Launch site | NSSDC-ID | GEO position | Notes |
| Morelos 1 | Hughes | 17/6/1985 | Discovery (STS-51-G) | KSC | 1985-048B | 113 W | Decommissioned |
| Morelos 2 | Hughes | 27/11/1985 | Atlantis (STS-61-B) | KSC | 1985-109B | 116.8 W | Decommissioned |
| Solidaridad 1 | Hughes | 17/11/1993 | Ariane 4 | Kourou | 1993-073A | 109.2 W | Decommissioned |
| Solidaridad 2 | Hughes | 17/10/1994 | Ariane 4 | Kourou | 1994-065A | 114.9 W | Decommissioned |
| Satmex 5 | Hughes | 05/12/1998 | Ariane 4 | Kourou | 1998-070A | 114.9 W | Original name: Morelos 3; current status: Unknown. |
| Satmex 6 | Space Systems/Loral | 27/05/2006 | Ariane 5 | Kourou | 2006-020A | 113.0 W | Operational |
| Satmex 7 | Boeing | 02/03/2015 | Falcon 9 v1.1 | KSC | | | Operational |
| Satmex 8 | Space Systems/Loral | 26/03/2013 | Proton-M | Baikonur | 2013-012A | 116.8 W | Operational |
| Satmex 9 | Boeing | 15/06/2016 | Falcon 9 v1.1 | KSC | | | Operational |