These contracts, signed 18 June, realize the provisions of the contract signed in November of 2008 between ESA and HISPASAT as part of ESA’s ARTES 11 programme element.
ARTES 11 Small GEO is aimed at the development of a general-purpose small geostationary satellite platform and consequent mission, which will enable European industry to play a significant role in the commercial telecom market for small platforms. ESA focuses its support on research and development activities, while the industrial partners finance a substantial part of the development costs and bear the risks associated to the launch and further exploitation.
The contract signed at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget between the German company OHB and the Spanish Operator gives OHB the status of principal contractor for the entire satellite. Further, OHB will be responsible for integrating the satellite, performing the in-orbit testing and putting the satellite into operation. It will also be providing real-time support throughout the satellite's entire life cycle of 15 years.
The main payload for Hispasat AG1 is to be supplied by Tesat-Spacecom. The new LUXOR satellite platform is being developed by a European industrial team lead-managed by OHB-System AG. The industrial team comprises the Swedish Space Corporation, Oerlikon Space AG (Switzerland), and LUXSPACE Sàrl (Luxembourg).
The second contract signed by HISPASAT at the Paris Air Show was with a team lead by Thales Alenia Space España, which also includes EADS CASA, for the development of the REDSAT advanced payload. The REDSAT payload includes a regenerative on board processor based on the DVB S2/DVB RCS standard, and an advanced Ku Band active antenna.
Hispasat AG1 will be placed in a geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres, where it will supply Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and America with multimedia services. Hispasat will be integrating Hispasat AG1 in its existing fleet of geostationary communications satellites.
The first Small Geo mission is scheduled for launch at the end of 2012. For more information, see the external and contact links located in the top right column of this page.
