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Business briefs: July 25
Posted: Fri, Jul 26, 2002, 7:53 AM ET (1153 GMT)
- Astrium announced Thursday that it has won a contract to deliver a previously-built communications satellite to a new customer. Hellas-Sat will be delivered to a Greek-Cypriot organization of the same name; it will be used to provide TV broadcasting services for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The satellite was originally known as K-TV and intended for New Skies Satellites, but was held up in a dispute between Astrium, New Skies, and Astrium subcontractors. The announcement was made the same day that BAE Systems announced it was selling its 25 percent share of Astrium to EADS for 165 million euros (US$165 million). EADS already owns the other 75 percent of Astrium.
- Arianespace said Thursday that it has signed a contract with the French space agency CNES to launch a reconnaissance satellite. Helios 2A is scheduled for launch into polar orbit in 2004 on an Ariane 5. The satellite is the first in a series of second-generation reconnaissance satellites operated by France in cooperation with several other European nations.
- The Ukrainian government approved plans this week to develop a new version of the Tsiklon launch vehicle as part of a joint venture with Brazil. The Tsiklon-4 will be an improved version of the Tsiklon-3, a medium-capacity launch vehicle. Ukraine hopes to use the Alcantara launch facility in Brazil for the Tsiklon-4. The total cost of the Tsiklon-4 will be US$180 million, with Ukraine paying half.
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