Posted: Tue, Apr 25, 2006, 8:24 AM ET (1224 GMT)
An unusual combination of Alcatel Alenia Space and Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Monday that they had won a contract for a small commercial communications satellite. SES Global will order the AMC-21 satellite from the two companies, with Alcatel serving as prime contractor and payload provider, while Orbital will provide the satellite bus. The spacecraft, scheduled to enter service in mid-2008 in GEO at 125 degrees west, will weigh 2,500 kilograms at launch and carry 24 Ku-band transponders.

Related Links:

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