Space Systems Loral is to develop one of the world's most powerful commercial communications satellite buses. The first flight is scheduled for 2002. The modular spacecraft bus, called the 20.20, will offer multi-region and digital processing payloads for a range of applications, at "the lowest cost per transponder", says Loral. The 20.20 will have a 25kW power capability and will carry up to 150 transponders with on-board digital signal processing.
Source: Flight International