Thales Alenia Space to provide Koreasat 6 telecommunication satellite

 

 

May 14, 2008

Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with Korea Telecom (KT) to provide their next telecommunication satellite, Koreasat 6. For this contract, Thales Alenia Space teamed with U.S manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) who will provide satellite platform.

As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space will have overall responsibility for design, manufacturing and test of the Koreasat 6 satellite and Ground Segment, as well as Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP), In-Orbit Test (IOT) support and associated services. Thales Alenia Space will procure Orbital’s small sized GEO platform, STAR-2, and will manufacture the communications payload.

Designed for 15 years lifetime, Koreasat 6 satellite will have 30 active Ku-band transponders with 2750 kg launch mass, and 3.4 kW payload power. The satellite, scheduled to be launch late 2010, will be positioned at 116 degrees East and will provide broadcasting and telecommunications services over Korea.

Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space stated: “KT is one of Thales Alenia Space’s key customers in the Asia Pacific Region, and we are very pleased that they confirmed their trust and confidence in our company.” He added: “This contract represents the third cooperation with Korea for Thales Alenia Space; the company having already provided the Earth Observation satellite Kompsat-5 to the Korean Space Agency KARI and the dual-use telecom satellite Koreasat-5 to KT and Korean Ministry of Defense ADD.”