Alphabus
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| Alphabus | |
| Organization | Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium Satellites |
|---|---|
| Mission type | A platform for Communication satellite in geostationary orbit |
| Launch vehicle | All types of commercial launch vehicles |
| Mission duration | up to 15 years |
| Mass | more than 6 tons |
| Power | up to 20 kW |
Alphabus is the name given to a family of heavy geostationary communications satellites.
Alphabus is developed by a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space[1] and EADS Astrium Satellites in France, with support of the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the french space agency and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Alphabus platform is designed for communications satellites with payload power in the range 12-18 kW. Satellites based on Alphabus will have a launch mass in the range 6 to 8 tonnes, 40 % more than the most powerful Spacebus 4000.
In order to cover the mission range in an optimised way, the platform product line includes several options such as electric propulsion, and features scalable resources (solar array, radiators for thermal dissipation, etc). The platform will be able to accommodate up to 190 high power transponders and large antenna farms, and will have a significant growth potential (20 kW payload power and 9 tonnes launch mass for the extended range).
Contents |
[edit] Alphasat I-XL
Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, has awarded a contract to EADS Astrium Satellites[2] for a first use of such a platform. The satellite is named Alphasat I-XL. It will augment its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service.
The satellite will support a new generation of mobile technologies and enable communications across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Alphasat I-XL is scheduled for launch in 2012.
[edit] Footnotes and Sources
- ^ Alphabus development well under way. Thales Alenia Space (2007-11-23).
- ^ Alphasat I-XL satellite contract, on Astrium web site
