nbn ready to blast into orbit

nbn will blast its first network satellite 36,000 kilometres into orbit on 1 October 2015. Scheduled to launch from Guiana Space Centre in South America, the satellite ‘Sky Muster’ is set to progressively deliver fast broadband to more than 200,000 homes and businesses in rural and remote Australia from next year.

Weighing nearly 6400 kilograms, it is one of the world’s largest communications satellites and is the first of two nbn will launch into space.

nbn Managing Space Systems Architect Julia Dickinson said the satellite will play a crucial role in levelling the playing field between city and bush.

“Many rural and remote Australians do not have access to a quality broadband service and continue to experience dial-up level speeds. Sky Muster will help deliver world-class broadband services to the bush — it will offer better opportunities for distance education online through use of videoconferencing as well as improved access for specialist telehealth applications in the home.”

Based 400 km outside of Alice Springs and a student of School of the Air, six-year-old Bailey Brooks won the opportunity to name the satellite through a nationwide nbn drawing competition that invited children to illustrate how the new broadband network will make Australia a better country.

Bailey, along with her remote classmates, named the satellite Sky Muster to refer to the gathering of cattle and how the satellite will help ‘round up’ and connect Australians together. Her illustration will also be displayed on the rocket launching the satellite into orbit.

“My drawing shows me on my balcony and the satellite and stars in the sky. I’m very excited to name the satellite and have my drawing put on the rocket and am counting down the days until Sky Muster is sent into space.”