Astra 1KR & Astra 1L from Lockheed Martin

net1

SES Astra has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to design and manufacture two high-powered communications satellites to be deployed at Astra’s prime continental European orbital position of 19.2° East. Terms of the contract remain confidential. Astra 1KR & Astra 1L are due to be launched in the second half of 2005 and in 2006 respectively.

The new satellites will have minimum service lives of 15 years. The satellites will be built on Lockheed’s reliable A2100 platform, and designed to be compatible with all flight-proven commercial launch vehicles. SES ASTRA intends to select the respective launch service providers later on in the year.

The first satellite, Astra 1KR, will feature 32 active Ku band transponders in the FSS band, with a TWTA output power of 140 watts and a pan-European footprint. With an expected launch weight of approximately 4200 kilograms the spacecraft’s primary mission, following the lost Astra 1K mission of November 2002, will be to replace Astra 1B and 1C launched in 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The second satellite will be built in parallel and serves two missions: In case of an Astra 1KR launch failure, it will replace that spacecraft. If the Astra 1KR launch is a success, the second satellite will be reconfigured to include a Ka-Band payload and become Astra 1L. It will be designed to replace Astra 1E and to reinforce SES ASTRA’s renowned and still unique inter satellite back-up concept at a single orbital position, by providing satellite protection in the Ku (FSS & BSS) and Ka bands.

In addition, Astra 1L will ensure further fleet optimization by allowing the release of Astra 2C from its current location of 19.2° East. The spacecraft will feature 29 active Ku band transponders as well as a 2 transponder Ka band payload for such interactive applications as ASTRA BBI (Broadband Interactive) and Satmode services (ASTRA’s proposed low-cost satellite return channel for digital set-top boxes). Astra 1L will weight approximately 4300 kilograms upon launch, and also offers a pan-European footprint with a TWTA output of 140 watts.

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, is confident:

"With these state-of-the-art procurements, SES ASTRA cements not only the competitive position of Europe’s top Continental European orbital slot well into the next decade, but also reinforces the world’s most comprehensive inter-satellite protection scheme at a single orbital position. We look forward to working with Lockheed Martin on the two Astra missions and are confident that the scheduled renewal of our fleet will further strengthen our existing high standards of operational excellence and support our commitment of offering state-of-the-art satellite services to our customers."

"We are extremely gratified by the confidence SES ASTRA has placed in us," - said Ted Gavrilis, President, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems.

"Our flight-proven A2100 has provided a powerful, dependable solution for telecommunications customers worldwide and we look forward to establishing a long-term relationship with SES ASTRA."