Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB) has been selected to design, manufacture, and test a new commercial communications spacecraft known as New Dawn.

In late 2008, Orbital was authorized to proceed on the New Dawn program by Intelsat, Ltd. which formed a joint venture with Convergence Partners to own and operate the satellite. The New Dawn satellite will address the growing needs for fixed satellite services, such as voice communications, wireless backhaul, Internet connectivity, and broadcast media applications, across the continent of Africa. The New Dawn spacecraft will be based on Orbital’s proven STAR-2 platform and will generate approximately 4.8 kilowatts of electrical power to support 16 Ku- and 14 C-band active transponders covering Africa with two deployable antennas. Following the launch and completion of its in-orbit testing process, New Dawn will be located at 32.9 degrees East. The New Dawn satellite is scheduled to be placed in service in early 2011. In addition to the New Dawn satellite, Intelsat also ordered the IS-18 communications spacecraft from Orbital in 2008. The company’s two other GEO satellite orders in 2008 were the AMC-1R satellite for SES Americom and the Koreasat-6 satellite, for which Orbital is teamed with Thales Alenia Space, for KT Corporation of the Republic of Korea.

(Photo: STAR-2 platform, courtesy Orbital Sciences Corp.)