Tags: Arabsat, Astrium, Arianespace, Thales Alenia Space,
Publication: ArabianAerospace.aero
Publication Date: 01/20/2013

Arabsat selected Astrium, Thales Alenia Space and Arianespace for the production and launch of its first 6th generation satellite, BADR-7. The satellite will extend the company’s capacity for direct-to-home television broadcast and telecommunications services at the 26° East video hot spot.

With four deployable antennas and three fixed, BADR-7 will be able to address a large coverage area that includes MENA, South and North-West Africa and Central Asia. For this, the satellite is expected to operate 24 transponders in Ku-band and 24 spot beams in Ka-band. Furthermore, it will have three transponders in Ka-band for additional services.

Astrium will provide the Eurostar E3000 platform and integrate the satellites while Thales Alenia Space will be in charge of designing and building the communications payload. BADR-7 is expected to weigh approximately 13,450 pounds at launch and have a spacecraft power of 12 kW at the end of its more than 15-year operational life. Arianespace is scheduled to launch this satellite in 2015.

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