Matra Marconi Space (MMS) has signed an agreement with Motorola which will result in an anticipated $1 billion contract to build 71 communications satellites for the US company's Celestri system.
The Celestri satellites will be based on the MMS 3,000-4,000kg-class Eurostar 3000 spacecraft bus. A total of 70 will be operated in low-Earth orbit and one in geostationary orbit (GEO).
The system could eventually include more GEO-based satellites, which may be provided by another manufacturer.
The contract represents the largest-yet procurement of GEO-class communications spacecraft. The craft will be operated at over 10kW and will incorporate several new technologies, including electric ion-propulsion.
"The fact that we were selected by Motorola after a year-long review of all satellite manufacturers proves that we are competitive-the business gives us new impetus," says MMS. The contract is scheduled to be signed in mid-1998 after Motorola has secured full investor financing.
MMS intends to "contribute financially" to the Celestri venture, which will provide a $12 billion Ka-band global broadband satellite-communications network which will become operational in 2003, after the first launches in 1999. MMS also plans to operate its own Ka-band satellite system, the West.
The deal, if signed, will re-inforce the rapidly expanding presence of the Anglo-French joint venture as a major international force in the space industry. The company is also in final negotiations with Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) about merging the companies' space divisions.
Dasa's space activities were originally to have been linked with those of Aerospatiale, to form a pan-European space company to rival MMS (which also consists of the former British Aerospace space division). This proposal has been abandoned, with the remaining French companies, Aerospatiale, Alcatel and Thomson linking their space activities.
Source: Flight International
