The Olympus satellite and its utilization

The Olympus satellite was designed to provide communication satellite technology for the 1990s. It has a lift-off mass 2t and an in-orbit beginning of life mass of 1.5t. Olympus will carry a representative selection of payload elements needed for later operational missions to enable the components to be tested in-orbit and give the opportunity for potential service-providers to develop Earth stations and systems needed for later operational satellites. The satellite has four separate payloads on-board: direct broadcast payload; specialized services payload; 20/30 GHz communications payload, and propagation beacon package.