Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, is making the final preparations for the launch of EUTELSAT 9B, the latest spacecraft in the Eutelsat fleet. EUTELSAT 9B is due to be launched by an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan during the night of 29-30 January.
Based on the highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform, EUTELSAT 9B is a high-power broadcast satellite addressing high-growth video markets in Europe from its 9° East orbital position.
With a design life of more than 15 years, Eutelsat’s latest satellite will have a launch mass of 5,200 kg and a spacecraft power in excess of 12 kW.
Over its 15-year mission lifetime, EUTELSAT 9B will operate up to 56 Ku-band transponders connected to a broad European widebeam and four regional beams over European countries. It will increase Eutelsat’s capacity for video services in Europe, providing wide coverage for channels seeking maximum reach into satellite homes and terrestrial headends, as well as regional footprints addressing linguistic markets for digital TV in Italy, Germany, Greece and the Nordics with the Baltics and Ukraine.
In addition to its broadcast mission, EUTELSAT 9B will host the first data relay node EDRS-A for the European Data Relay System (EDRS-SpaceDataHighway), being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between ESA and Airbus Defence and Space.
The EDRS system of satellites in geostationary orbit will allow very high data rate, bi-directional data relay communications between Low Earth Orbit Earth Observation satellites, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and an associated ground segment.
EUTELSAT 9B, the fourth Airbus Defence and Space telecom satellite to be launched in less than three months, is the 43rd Eurostar E3000 satellite and the 10th for the Eutelsat fleet.
Airbus Defence and Space
Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs more than 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year.
Press contacts:
Jeremy Close + 44 14 38 77 38 72 jeremy.close@astrium.eads.net
Gregory Gavroy + 33 1 82 59 43 13 gregory.gavroy@airbus.com
Francisco Lechón + 34 91 586 37 41 francisco.lechon@astrium.eads.net
Ralph Heinrich + 49 89 607 33 971 ralph.heinrich@airbus.com
Mathias Pikelj + 49 75 45 89 123 mathias.pikelj@airbus.com
www.airbusdefenceandspace.com
