Development of Alphabus, the New Line of Platforms for High-Power Satellites
(Source: European Space Agency; dated June 16, 2005)
Today at the Paris Air Show/Le Bourget, the contract was signed for the development of Alphabus, the new European platform for the next generation of telecommunications satellites.
The contract was signed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space. It marks the start of the Alphabus development programme with a view to production of the first flight model around 2009.
Alphabus, which was given the go-ahead by ESA's Member States at the Edinburgh ministerial conference in November 2001, is the work of an integrated team - ESA/CNES and EADS Astrium/Alcatel Space - which has designed a product targeted at the upper segment of the telecom satellite market.
ESA, CNES, EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space have thus pooled their technical and financial resources for a joint development programme.
Alphabus will offer Europe reliable solutions matching world demand for very high-power satellites and will be commercialised jointly by EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space as from 2007.
The Alphabus platform was designed for telecom satellites delivering payload power of 12 to 18 kW.
Alphabus will contribute to the replacement of the major operators' satellites, by offering a lower cost per transponder and the capability to fly reconfigurable missions. Alphabus will make new applications possible. These include the new generation of mobile and broadband services, digital radio broadcasting and high-definition TV.
Satellites based on Alphabus will have a lift-off mass of 6 to 8 tonnes and be optimised for the new generation of launchers with a fairing diameter of 5 m. The platform will accommodate near 200 high-power transponders and numerous antennas and have a high growth potential.
The joint prime contractor for the Alphabus platform is EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space. The industrial structure includes other European firms, providing all the equipment making up this innovative product, which should enable Europe to retain its competitive edge on the world satellite market.
The Alphabus programme is supported jointly by ESA and CNES which have, on this occasion, introduced new cooperation rules in order to respond to market needs as closely as possible and help in setting up a genuine industrial team benefiting from the best of the resources that the European space industry can offer.
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Alphabus, the New Line of Platforms for High-Power Satellite
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Alphabus Development Contract Signed
(Source: Alcatel; issued Jun 17, 2005)
PARIS, LE BOURGET, France --- EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel enter the full development of Alphabus, the new European platform for next generation communications satellites, following the signature of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency CNES. Under this contract, the agencies will support the industry for the Alphabus development programme and the production of a first flight model.
For several years, a joint team of the two leading European satellite companies has been working with the support of ESA and CNES to define a product line able to efficiently address the upper segment of communications satellites. EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space have decided to federate their technical and financial resources on a common development programme, taking into account the amount of new technologies and facilities. Alphabus is then the vector for Europe to develop new reliable solutions for large satellites and offer them on the world market.
The Alphabus platform is designed for communications satellites with payload power in the range 12-18 kW of power. This will support the renewal of the fleet for large operators, offering a lower cost per transponder and the ability to accommodate reconfigurable missions, as well as the development of applications such new generation mobile and broadband services, digital audio broadcast and HDTV. Satellites based on Alphabus will have a launch mass in the range 6 to 8 tonnes, and take full benefit of the capabilities of the new generation of 5 meter fairing commercial launchers. In order to cover the mission range in an optimised way, the platform product line includes several options such as electric propulsion, and features scalable resources (solar array, radiators for thermal dissipation, etc.). The platform will be able to accommodate up to 190 high power transponders and large antenna farms, and will have a significant growth potential.
Alphabus is jointly developed by EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space according to a longstanding industrial sharing. Responsibilities of EADS include: Electrical power, Solar array, Chemical propulsion, as well as the Assembly, Integration and Test of the spacecraft. Alcatel Space is in charge of the Mechanical and Thermal subsystems, Avionics, as well as Electrical propulsion.
EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space will market the Alphabus for commercial communications satellites. Following the completion of the development, Alphabus will be offered from 2007 onwards on the worldwide market.
The use of the ESA Alphabus protoflight model for the Alphasat mission is currently under definition.
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(Source: Alcatel; issued Jun 17, 2005)
PARIS, LE BOURGET, France --- EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel enter the full development of Alphabus, the new European platform for next generation communications satellites, following the signature of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency CNES. Under this contract, the agencies will support the industry for the Alphabus development programme and the production of a first flight model.
For several years, a joint team of the two leading European satellite companies has been working with the support of ESA and CNES to define a product line able to efficiently address the upper segment of communications satellites. EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space have decided to federate their technical and financial resources on a common development programme, taking into account the amount of new technologies and facilities. Alphabus is then the vector for Europe to develop new reliable solutions for large satellites and offer them on the world market.
The Alphabus platform is designed for communications satellites with payload power in the range 12-18 kW of power. This will support the renewal of the fleet for large operators, offering a lower cost per transponder and the ability to accommodate reconfigurable missions, as well as the development of applications such new generation mobile and broadband services, digital audio broadcast and HDTV. Satellites based on Alphabus will have a launch mass in the range 6 to 8 tonnes, and take full benefit of the capabilities of the new generation of 5 meter fairing commercial launchers. In order to cover the mission range in an optimised way, the platform product line includes several options such as electric propulsion, and features scalable resources (solar array, radiators for thermal dissipation, etc.). The platform will be able to accommodate up to 190 high power transponders and large antenna farms, and will have a significant growth potential.
Alphabus is jointly developed by EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space according to a longstanding industrial sharing. Responsibilities of EADS include: Electrical power, Solar array, Chemical propulsion, as well as the Assembly, Integration and Test of the spacecraft. Alcatel Space is in charge of the Mechanical and Thermal subsystems, Avionics, as well as Electrical propulsion.
EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space will market the Alphabus for commercial communications satellites. Following the completion of the development, Alphabus will be offered from 2007 onwards on the worldwide market.
The use of the ESA Alphabus protoflight model for the Alphasat mission is currently under definition.
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