Posted: Wed, Jun 7, 2006, 7:47 AM ET (1147 GMT)
EADS Astrium has won a contract to build a communications satellite for regional satellite operator Arabsat, the satellite manufacturer announced Tuesday. EADS Astrium will build the Badr-6, or "Full Moon", satellite for Arabsat; terms of the contract were not disclosed. The spacecraft, a Eurostar E2000+ model, will weigh 3,400 kg at launch and carry 20 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders. Scheduled to enter service in 2008 in GEO at 26 degrees east, the spacecraft will be used by Arabsat to provide video and data services, including direct-to-home television and broadband Internet access, for customers in the Middle East and North Africa. The spacecraft will serve as a replacement for Arabsat 4A, which was lost in a Proton launch failure in March. The contract is the fifth communications satellite order won by EADS Astrium so far this year.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  EADS Astrium press release