Posted: Fri, Dec 22, 2006, 11:35 AM ET (1635 GMT)
Alcatel Alenia Space has won a contract to built a new communications satellite for European operator Eutelsat, the company announced Thursday. Alcatel will build the Eutelsat W7 satellite, a Spacebus 4000-series spacecraft weighing 5,600 kilograms at launch and capable of generating 12 kilowatts of power. The spacecraft will carry up to 70 Ku-band transponders and operate from 36 degrees east longitude in GEO, replacing the existing SESAT 1 spacecraft there and and providing additional capacity for digital video services for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The spacecraft is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2009 on a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL.

Related Links:

•  Launchspace.com article
•  Alcatel Alenia Space press release
•  Eutelsat press release (PDF format)