Posted: Fri, Jul 22, 2005, 10:25 AM ET (1425 GMT)
European satellite manufacturer EADS Astrium announced Thursday that it won a contract from satellite operator SES Astra to build a new communications satellite. Astrium will build the Astra 1M satellite for SES for launch in 2008; terms of the agreement, as is traditional, were not disclosed. Astra 1M will be based on Astrium's Eurostar E3000 design, weighing 5,300 kilograms and carrying 36 Ku-band transponders. SES Astra will use the satellite to provide television services to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from the SES orbital slot at 19.2 degrees east.
