Arianespace, the European commercial launcher organisation, has won a contract to launch the Lockheed Martin-built N-SAT 110 communications spacecraft, owned by Japan's Space Communications (SCC).
The order brings to 38 the number of satellites on the Arianespace manifest and it is the ninth in 1998. The latest satellite and launch order is worth $330 million.
The N-SAT will be unusual in that it will be shared by SCC and its rival company, Japan Satellite Systems, operating in a 110¼E position in geostationary orbit (GEO).
Both companies had wanted to operate proprietary satellites in the same 110¼E position, but finally agreed to operate 12 Ku-band transponders each on the single satellite, with SCC controlling operations.
Arianespace is preparing to launch another Ariane 4 booster on 4 December, carrying the Mexican Satmex 5 communications satellite from Kourou, French Guiana. The Satmex, a Hughes HS-601HP craft, will replace the Morelos 2 satellite at 116°W in GEO. The 7kW satellite operates at 10 times the power of Morelos 2 and is equipped with 24 C-band and 24 ku-band transponders.
Source: Flight International
