Spaceflight

ESA says tie-up between Alcatel and Astrium ‘essential’ to safeguard continent’s communications-satellite sector

Rivals Alcatel Space and EADS Astrium are joining forces to develop the Alphabus large space platform in an agreement heralded as crucial to the survival of the European communications-satellite sector.

Developed with funding support from the European Space Agency and French space agency CNES, the Alphabus will be offered commercially from 2007.

With an initial payload power range of 12-18kW, and a maximum launch weight of 8,000kg (17,600lb), the platform will be able to accommodate up to 190 high-power transponders and large antennas.

ESA and CNES will support development of the first flight model, Alphasat, scheduled for launch in 2007. The first commercial launch would be in 2009.

“The success of this project is essential for Europe’s future in space,” says ESA director of applications Claudio Mastracci, describing the joint development and marketing agreement between Alcatel and Astrium as an “historical decision”.

Astrium will be responsible for electrical power, solar arrays, chemical propulsion, assembly integration and testing, while Alcatel will focus on mechanical and thermal systems, avionics and electric propulsion.

Alcatel and Astrium will offer the Alphabus alongside their respective Spacebus and Eurostar satellite ranges.

The Alphabus is designed to meet the fleet-renewal needs of operators of large 12kW-plus satellites by offering a lower- cost transponder and the ability to accommodate reconfigurable missions, as well as for next-generation mobile and broadband communications broadcast services involving digital audio and high-definition television.

TIM FURNISS/LONDON