[Satellite TODAY 01-13-10] SES Astra has been awarded a second contract by the European Commission (EC) to provide hosted payload services for the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), SES announced Jan. 12.
    The payload will operate in L-band and be located onboard SES Astra’s new Astra 5B satellite. The satellite, which will be built by EADS Astrium, is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2013 and will be positioned at SES Astra’s 31.5 degrees East position. SES Astra also will provide the related ground infrastructure.
    EGNOS, managed by the European Commission on behalf of the European Union, is Europe’s first contribution to satellite navigation and a precursor of Galileo, the global satellite navigation system that the EU is developing. 
Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.

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