- Astrium is the prime contractor for the space segment
of COMSATBw-1, the German military’s first communications satellite
- Astrium is the prime contractor for Amazonas 2, the
fourth telecommunications satellite manufactured for the Spanish operator
Hispasat
- Astrium is the prime contractor for the development
and delivery of the Ariane 5 launcher
COMSATBw-1 is the first
military communications satellite to be operated by the German Bundeswehr as
part of their SATCOMBw Stage 2 military communications programme. A second
satellite, COMSATBw-2, will be launched in 2010 making the programme fully
operational and will provide the German Bundeswehr with their first, dedicated
satellite communications network.
The communications network
will allow the German Bundeswehr to transmit secure information for use by
units on deployed missions. Communications satellites are currently the only
solution for the flexible transmission of data, which is not dependent on
existing infrastructure within the theatre of operations.
Astrium is responsible for
the space segment of the SATCOMBw Stage 2 programme and for the in-orbit
delivery of the satellites. Thales Alenia Space designed and manufactured COMSATBw-1,
and was responsible for its system integration. Astrium undertook the ground
testing on the satellite, whilst a major part of the payload system was
manufactured by Astrium’s TESAT subsidiary.
COMSATBw-1 weighs around 2.4
metric tons.
Amazonas 2 is the fourth satellite to be built by Astrium for Hispasat. This
powerful satellite, based on the Eurostar E3000 satellite platform, will
increase the Spanish operator's capacity to meet the growing market demand for telecommunication
services in Brazil, as well
as other parts of the Americas.
The satellite has a launch mass of 5.45 metric tons, is capable of
delivering a payload power of 12 kW, and has a design life of 15 years.
Once in orbit, it will join the existing constellation of sixteen operational
E3000 satellites and will provide broadcasting and transmission services from a
geostationary orbit position of 61° West. Amazonas 1 has been operating 51
transponders in this position since 2004, and Amazonas 2 will operate 54 in the
Ku band and 10 in the C band.
Astrium, the only prime contractor for Ariane 5, co-ordinates all the
necessary contractual work and delivers a complete and fully tested launch
vehicle to Arianespace, the commercial launch service provider. Astrium Space
Transportation supplies all the Ariane 5 stages, equipment bays, flight
software and numerous sub-assemblies.
Astrium, a
wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence
space systems and services. In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of €4.3 billion and
more than 15,000 employees in France,
Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain
and the Netherlands.
Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers
and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground
segment and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
EADS
is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008,
EADS generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed a workforce of more
than 118, 000.
Press contacts:
Daniel
Mosely (Astrium UK) Tel.:
+44 (0)1 438 77 8180
Matthieu Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Tel.:
+33 (0) 1 77 75 80 32
Ralph Heinrich (Astrium GER) Tel.: +49 (0) 89 607 33971
Francisco Lechón (Astrium SP) Tel.:
+34 91 586 37 41
www.astrium.eads.net
