ASTRIUM AWARDED W3A SATELLITE CONTRACT BY EUTELSAT

Astrium has been selected, following an international competition, by EUTELSAT to build its most powerful satellite W3A to be launched mid 2003. W3A will provide a full range of applications that include business communications, Internet-based services and television transmission over a large zone covering Europe and Africa from the 7°degree East orbit location in Ku and Ka-bands.

Astrium, as prime contractor for W3A, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. The satellite will fulfil a fixed and broadcast communications mission and is equipped with 50 transponders in Ku and Ka-bands. On-board digital multiplexing is also included for up to 5 channels.

The spacecraft has a launch mass of 4.3 tons, a solar array span of 35 metres once deployed in orbit, and a spacecraft power of 9 kW at end of life. The satellite, operating in geostationary orbit, will provide commercial services for a minimum of 12 years.

W3A is based on the E3000 version of the EUROSTAR family, five models of which are already in production. 32 EUROSTAR spacecraft have been ordered to date, of which 22 have already been launched and have proven highly reliable in operational service.

A Carlier, CEO of Astrium, said: “It is the seventh time, in five years, that EUTELSAT has selected Astrium for satellites of their HOT BIRD and W series and the sixth success for an E3000 in a year. The flexibility offered for the W3A mission will allow EUTELSAT to make full use of the spacecraft capabilities for multimedia applications.”

W3A technical characteristics

Spacecraft : E3000

Main body dimensions : Height : 5.8 m

Length : 2.4 m -- Width : 2.9 m

Solar Array Span deployed : 35 m

Launch mass : 4 tons+

DC Power / End of life : 9000W

Design lifetime : 12 years +

Orbital position : 7° East

Payload

Frequency bands : Ku and Ka

Number of transponders : 50 transponders in Ku-and ka-bands

Coverage : Pan-European, Mediterranean & Arabic regions, Aegean regions, Mid and South Africa

Channel Bandwidths : 36 MHz (40 Ku-band transponders), 49.5 MHz (1 Ku-band transponder), 72 MHz (15 Ku-band transponders), 108 MHz (2 Ka-band transponders)

Satellites built by Astrium for EUTELSAT since the last 5 years

Satellite: W3 Launchdate: mid 2003 Position: 7°E Mission: Telecom, TV No of channels: 50 Launch Mass in Kg: 4 300

Satellite: HOT BIRD 7 Launchdate: 2002 Position: 13°E Mission: TV No of channels: 40 Launch Mass in Kg: 3 300

Satellite: W 1 Launchdate: 2000 Position: 10°E Mission: Telecom No of channels: 28 Launch Mass in Kg: 3 250

Satellite: HOT BIRD 5 Launchdate: Oct. 1998 Position: 13°E Mission: TV No of channels: 20 Launch Mass in Kg: 3 000

Satellite: HOT BIRD 4 Launchdate: Feb. 1998 Position: 13°E Mission: TV No of channels: 20 Launch Mass in Kg: 2 900

Satellite: HOT BIRD 3 Launchdate: Sep. 1997 Position: 13°E Mission: TV No of channels: 20 Launch Mass in Kg: 2 900

Satellite: HOT BIRD 2 Launchdate: Nov. 1996 Position: 13°E Mission: TV No of channels: 20 Launch Mass in Kg: 2 900

Astrium was also responsible for the construction of the satellites Telecom 2D, Telecom 2A and DFS Copernicus which are currently operated by EUTELSAT.