Star Bus

It was originally developed by Thomas van der Heyden, co-founder of CTAI, and later sold to and manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation.

[citation needed] The Star Bus satellite platform is designed for various applications, including communications, remote sensing, and scientific missions.

Since its initial development, the Star Bus platform has undergone continuous enhancements, expanding its capabilities for increasingly complex missions.

These advancements include improvements in power generation, thermal management, and propulsion systems, making it one of the most versatile satellite platforms in the industry.

The Star Bus family has been employed in both commercial and governmental projects, including the SES and Intelsat communications constellations.

Artist impression of Optus D1 , built on the Orbital Star Bus platform