Posted: Thu, Feb 2, 2006, 7:26 AM ET (1226 GMT)
European satellite operator announced Wednesday that it was buying the first communications satellite to be built by a joint venture of European aerospace firm EADS and Indian space agency ISRO. The Eutelsat W2M satellite, scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2008, will be located in GEO at 10 degrees east and carry between 26 and 32 Ku-band transponders. The three-ton spacecraft is the first to be produced by a joint venture between EADS and ISRO that was announced in mid-2005. ISRO will provide the satellite bus, based on the I3K model, while EADS Astrium will provide the communications payload and serve as the prime contractor.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  AFX article
•  Indiantelevision.com article
•  Eutelsat press release