EchoStar IX / Telstar 13 — Galaxy 23 Antenna Supports

Mechanical-design support for the vertical spacecraft structure and interfaces carrying multiple communications-antenna reflectors.

Spacecraft StructuresReflector SupportsMechanical IntegrationPackaging

Program identification

The spacecraft launched on August 7, 2003 under the joint EchoStar IX / Telstar 13 identity. The Intelsat-owned C-band payload and associated common elements became IA-13 and were renamed Galaxy 23 in 2007, while EchoStar continued to identify its portion as EchoStar IX.

Direct spacecraft hardware context

The work centered on the vertical mechanical support structure used to locate, carry, and integrate multiple large reflector-dish assemblies with the spacecraft bus.

What the work involved

Supported mechanical definition of the vertical antenna-reflector support structure.
Integrated multiple reflector mounting interfaces around the support area.
Coordinated large deployed hardware with spacecraft packaging and interface constraints.
Developed drawing and integration information supporting reflector-system hardware.

Portfolio strengths

Spacecraft mechanical integration
Multiple large-reflector interfaces
Support-structure definition
Interface and packaging awareness
Communications-satellite experience

Reference-based reconstruction. The rendering follows Evan Coffield's supplied CAD view, including the vertical support and surrounding reflector arrangement. It remains public-safe and does not reproduce proprietary dimensions, deployment mechanisms, structural margins, or controlled drawings.

Load path awareness

Support structures had to carry large, delicate spacecraft hardware through ground handling, launch, and deployed operation.

Interface control

Mechanical support definition had to align with the spacecraft bus, stowed packaging, and surrounding equipment.

Space systems range

Complements telescope, protected-communications, launch-vehicle, and later satellite-communications work.

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