spacetoday.net: Arabsat signs deal for two new satellites

Posted: Tue, Jun 19, 2007, 7:09 AM ET (1109 GMT)
Eurostar 3000 illustration (Astrium)

Middle Eastern satellite operator Arabsat will purchase two satellites from a pair of European companies and launch them on European and Russian rockets, the companies announced this weekend. The two satellites, Arabsat-5A and BADR-5, will be built by a partnership of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, the two major European manufacturer of communications satellites. Astrium will serve as the prime contractor and provide the satellite bus, based on the Eurostar E3000 model, while Thales Alenia will provide the communications payload. Arabsat-5A will weigh 4,800 kg at launch and operate from 30.5 degrees east in GEO with a payload of C- and Ku-band transponders. BADR-5 (also known as Arabsat-5B) will weigh 5,400 kg at launch and operate from 26 degrees east with a payload of Ka- and Ku-band transponders. The two satellites will be launched by Arianespace and ILS in 2009-2010; the assignment of the satellites to each company will be determined at a later date.