Another new satellite serving SiriusXM has completed orbital testing and has been handed over to the company, according to SiriusXM and manufacturer Maxar Technologies.
“SXM-8 will provide continuous, reliable delivery of SiriusXM’s audio entertainment and information services to consumers in the United States and will expand SiriusXM’s coverage area in Canada and the Caribbean,” according to an announcement.
It was launched from Florida in June. A similar new bird went up late last year.
The new satellites have expected service lives of 15 years; they replace XM-3 and XM-4 in the company’s total service constellation of six satellites.
[Related: “SiriusXM’s SXM-7 Satellite Is in Orbit”]
“SXM-8 is the ninth high-powered, digital, audio radio satellite built by Maxar for SiriusXM,” the companies announced.
“Built on Maxar’s 1300-class platform and designed to provide more than 15 years of service, SXM-8 is more than 27 feet tall and weighed nearly 7,000 kg at launch. SXM-8 has a large, mesh, unfurlable reflector almost 30 feet in diameter that will allow SiriusXM programming to reach its radios, including those in moving vehicles.”
The announcement was made by Maxar’s Senior Vice President of Space Programs Delivery Chris Johnsn and SiriusXM’s Senior Vice President of Satellite and Repeater Systems Engineering and Operations Bridget Neville.
