Posted: Thu, Jan 13, 2005, 7:23 AM ET (1223 GMT)
Swedish communications company Nordic Satellite AB (NSAB) awarded Lockheed Martin a contract Wednesday for a new satellite. The satellite, Sirius 4, will be based on Lockheed's A2100AX bus with a mix of 2 Ka-band and 52 Ku-band payloads. The satellite will be used in part to replace coverage in portions of northern and eastern Europe, and Russia, currently provided by the Sirius 2 and 3 satellites. Sirius 4 will also provide Ka-band interactive services in parts of Europe, as well as coverage of sub-Saharan Africa. The satellite is scheduled to be launched by the 2nd quarter of 2007, although launch arrangements were not announced. Terms of the contract also were not disclosed.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  NSAB press release
•  Lockheed Martin press release