[Satellite TODAY 10-17-11] Inmarsat subsidiary Inmarsat SA has successfully completed the critical design review for the operator’s new Inmarsat-5 satellites, the mobile operator announced Oct. 13.

   The Inmarsat-5 satellites, which are under construction by Boeing, are a key element of the operator’s new Global Xpress Ka-band network.

   Inmarsat Space Segment Vice President Franco Carnevale said that all aspects of the spacecraft design and operation were thoroughly reviewed by Inmarsat’s engineering and operation teams and by a Boeing independent review team.

   “This is a fundamental milestone and marks the transition of the project from a design and engineering phase to a manufacturing, integration and test phase,” Carnevale said in a statement. “The review was completed earlier than scheduled, and the conclusion of the CDR board was that the design is mature and there are comfortable margins with all key performance parameters.”

The Inmarsat-5 F1 is on schedule for completion and launch in 2013. Inmarsat added that plans for construction of the ILS Proton launch vehicle that will loft Inmarsat-5 into orbit would be discussed at a programmatic kick off meeting with ILS and the vehicle manufacturers Khrunichev in early December.