Arianespace has awarded German company Kayser-Threde a contract to build a dummy satellite payload for the European Space Agency-funded third Ariane 5 development test flight scheduled for 13 October.
The payload, designated Maqsat 3, matches the mechanical and dynamic features of the originally planned Eutelsat W1 communications satellite 503 payload, damaged by a fire at Aerospatiale.
Kayser has to deliver the 2,600kg, 3m-high payload by a deadline of 1 September.
Source: Flight International