Posted: Wed, May 18, 2005, 8:16 AM ET (1216 GMT)
EADS Astrium announced Tuesday that it has won a contract to built a multi-purpose Korean satellite. Astrium will build the COMS satellite for the Korea Aerospace and Research Institute (KARI), which will provide meteorology, oceanography, and communications services for South Korea. The 2.4-ton satellite will be based on the Eurostar E3000 bus; Astrium will provide the satellite and the meteorology and oceanography payloads, while KARI, in an unusual move, will provide the Ka-band communications payload itself. The satellite will operate from GEO, but no launch date or vehicle was announced. Space News reported that KARI officials previously stated that COMS would launch in 2008.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  EADS Astrium press release