Eutelsat 3B satellite. Photo: Eutelsat

[Via Satellite 02-19-2014] Eutelsat Communications announced that its Eutelsat 3B satellite has arrived in Long Beach, Calif. and has been transported to the Sea Launch “Home Port” facility for final launch preparations. Scheduled to launch April 15, the satellite will be replacing the current Eutelsat 3D satellite.

Once standalone spacecraft operations are completed, the satellite will be given to Energia Logistics, Sea Launch’s prime contractor, to be paired with the payload support structure and integrated with the Zenit 3SL launch vehicle.

Eutelsat 3B, built by Airbus Defense and Space using the Eurostar 3000 platform, is designed to increase and diversify Eutelsat’s resources and footprint at the 3 degrees east orbital position. The satellite will assemble Ku, C and Ka payloads in one platform, and will operate up to 51 transponders. This tri-band configuration enables customers to select one of three frequency bands adapted to data, telecom, broadband and professional video services covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South America.