Posted: Wed, Jun 16, 2004, 7:57 AM ET (1157 GMT)
French satellite manufacturer Alcatel announced Tuesday that it won a contract to build a communications satellite for PanAmSat, the second satellite order announced by the company in less than a week. Alcatel said it will build Galaxy 17 based on its Spacebus 3000 B3 platform. The spacecraft will serve portions of North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, offering video and phone services. The spacecraft, weighing 4100 kg at launch, will carry 24 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, nor were launch plans for the spacecraft. Earlier in the year PanAmSat said it would order Galaxy 17 to replace Galaxy 11, a Boeing 702 model whose solar panel problems are expected to allow the spacecraft to operate until about 2007. Last Friday Alcatel announced it has been chosen by Chinese state-run broadcaster ChinaSat to build the Chinasat spacecraft, scheduled for launch in late 2006 on a Long March.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Alcatel press release