SES-15 is the first all-electric satellite built for and operated by SES. The spacecraft utilizes a highly-efficient electric propulsion subsystem that uses Xenon gas rather than dangerous liquids propellants for both orbit raising and orbital control. But that’s not all that sets this satellite apart.

The satellite is also carrying a very important hosted payload on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). SES-15 is playing host to an FAA Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) hosted payload. These WAAS payloads are a part of a terrestrial and satellite network that augments GPS and ensures greater precision in the routing and piloting of aircraft.

To learn more about the launch, the SES-15 satellite, why this satellite accounted for many exciting “firsts,” and to discuss the future of the WAAS program moving forward, we recently sat down with Bryan Benedict, the Senior Director of Innovation and Satellite Programs at SES Space and Defense, and Dana Hargrave, the Senior Program Manager for WAAS at Raytheon, to record a podcast.

Here is what Bryan and Dana had to say:

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To learn more about hosted payloads and their ability to give the federal government and the United States military faster, cheaper and more efficient access to space, click here to download the white paper, “What is a Hosted Payload?”

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But WAAS isn’t just notable because of its important role and mission – the program is also notable because it utilizes hosted payloads aboard commercial satellites. The FAA WAAS relies on a number of satellites for sending updated GPS information to end users, and those satellite payloads are frequently launched as hosted payloads on the spacecraft of commercial satellite providers.

The new WAAS payload being launched will be hosted aboard SES-15, a Ku-band satellite that will provide HTS and wide-beam coverage from 129°W and will be managed by global COMSATCOM provider, SES.

The use of hosted payloads by the FAA for the WAAS program is notable because it’s a practice that – quite frankly – isn’t adopted as often and as widely as it should be across the federal government and Department of Defense. Although hosted payloads are capable of giving federal entities access to space in a more efficient and expedient fashion, they simply aren’t utilized frequently or consistently due to perceived risks and concerns about the lack of control over the spacecraft. But despite the reticence seen across the federal government, the FAA has been bullish about hosted payloads – utilizing them to put payloads in space for approximately two decades.

To better understand why the FAA is such a staunch believer in hosted payloads, get more information about WAAS and find out why WAAS payloads are perfect candidates to be hosted aboard commercial spacecraft, we sat down with two government satellite experts from SES Space and Defense – Tim Deaver, Corporate Vice President of Development, and Bryan Benedict, Senior Director of Innovation and Satellite Programs.

During our podcast discussion, Tim and Bryan talked about why it makes business sense for WAAS to be hosted on a COMSATCOM satellite, why the FAA is a leader in hosted payloads, and what other government agencies can learn from the FAA. Here is what they had to say:

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To learn more about hosted payloads and how they can give government agencies and the Department of Defense more efficient and expedient access to space, click the following resources: 

• Whitepaper: What is a Hosted Payload?
• Hosted Payloads Infographic
• PODCAST: Nicole Robinson on the benefits of hosted payloads for NOAA and other federal agencies
• PODCAST: CHIRP team discusses program and benefits of hosted payloads

The post FAA WAAS leads the way on hosted payloads in the federal government appeared first on SES Space and Defense.