Posted: Sun, Sep 14, 2003, 12:40 AM ET (0440 GMT)
European satellite manufacturer Astrium has won a contract to build the latest broadcasting satellite for Eutelsat, the company announced Friday. Hot Bird 8 will be a Eurostar 3000 series satellite with 64 Ku-band transponders to provide video, radio, and data services from 13 degrees east longitude. The spacecraft is scheduled for launch in early 2006 on an Ariane 5. Hot Bird 8 will be Eutelsat's largest spacecraft, with a launch mass of 4,700 kilograms and total end-of-life power of 14 kilowatts. The order came just a month and a half after Eutelsat ordered another satellite Hot Bird 7A, from a competing satellite manufacturer, Alcatel.

Related Links:

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