Consulting & Operator Services

Satellite Procurement Monitoring

"Satellite Procurement Monitoring" is defined as the technical oversight provided by an independent engineering authority to oversee the design, manufacture, test, launch in-orbit acceptance of a satellite on a customer's behalf. Companies preparing to enter the satellite business for the first time, almost without exception, retain the services of a technical consultant to support the procurement of a new satellite. Even more experienced satellite operators hire consultants to help safeguard their investment relative to the technical and schedule risks. More and more, investors and insurance companies are also insisting on the involvement of a credible technical consultant to instill technical confidence in a satellite program.

Telesat's Experience With Spacecraft Manufacturers:

Alcatel
Astrium
Lockheed Martin
Boeing Satellite Systems
Space Systems Loral
TRW

With the increasing number of in-orbit anomalies experienced since 1998, the reliability of satellites has recently come into question. As a result, the finance and insurance communities are strongly advocating aggressive monitoring of satellites to hopefully reduce the number of in-orbit anomalies.

The skills required to manage a satellite procurement program are complex and highly specialized. Telesat is one of the few companies in the world that developed this expertise as a result of having successfully consulted on more than one hundred (100) satellites, spanning thirty (30) countries over the past thirty (30) years. These include eighteen (18) satellites for Telesat's own requirements. Very few companies can match Telesat's extensive procurement experience.

Telesat has all the necessary expertise to guide a customer through the various phases of the spacecraft procurement cycle. The skills and specializations available include:

Overall System Design:

Interference Analysis
Communications Systems
Product Assurance

Spacecraft Monitoring:

Systems & Bus
Payload Integration & Test
Payload Hardware Performance
Antenna Subsystems
Payload Engineering
Bus & Launch Vehicles
Bus Subsystems
Attitude Control
Thermal/Mechanisms
Satellite Dynamics
TT&C Ground Systems Engineering

The spacecraft procurement cycle typically commences with a system design and planning phase which forms the basis of the technical requirements of the Request for Proposal (RFP). The system design follows the requirements of a customer's business plan. The key to a successful satellite procurement is to involve a technical expert early on in the project to secure vital visibility into the program and to minimize the technical risks. The RFP is issued to prospective spacecraft suppliers. Proposals received against the RFP are then evaluated. Telesat has developed a proprietary evaluation methodology which is applied to narrow down the choice of bidders who will be selected for contract negotiations.

The satellite contract negotiation process is unique and unlike any other procurement due to the peculiar nature of the satellite business. Spacecraft contract negotiations can sometimes take weeks or even months depending on the complexity of the spacecraft and the commercial terms required by both the buyer and the supplier. It is essential that the customer's monitoring and program requirements are firmly built into the procurement documents to ensure maximum program visibility and access to information.

Telesat has developed a highly effective approach to satellite procurement monitoring. As soon as the Spacecraft Procurement Contract is signed, Telesat will establish a small team of engineers to reside at the spacecraft manufacturer's facilities. These engineers are supported by Telesat's headquarters' specialists to ensure that the satellite design, construction and testing meet the customer's overall program objectives. By having a team close to the manufacturing process allows for early identification of potential problems and their quick resolution.

The engineers resident at the manufacturer's facilities, supported by Telesat's headquarters specialists, attend all design reviews, thoroughly analyze the satellite design, and continuously monitor the manufacturing and construction process, the spacecraft integration and testing, the launch and finally the in-orbit acceptance tests.

Telesat has a unique and effective approach to spacecraft monitoring focusing on specific areas of high risk and ensuring a thorough and well-planned process for the design, development, manufacturing and test of satellites, including contingency planning. This involvement does not stop at the prime contractor level of satellite manufacture but also at the sub-contractor level. Telesat thoroughly scrutinizes the quality assurance programs of the manufacturer and its sub-contractors to ensure that nothing has been overlooked.

In summary, the practical knowledge and real experience that Telesat brings to a satellite program can help reduce the technical risk and add value and assurance to the future satellite operator and its investors.

Other space-related expertise available from Telesat includes:

Additional advisory services are also available: in fact, any skill set that Telesat requires to operate its day-to-day satellite business can be made available upon request.