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Satnews Daily
May 10th, 2010

Thales Alenia Space... Both A Primary + A Backup Role



Apstar-7 satellite, image courtesy of Thales Alenia Space
Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the APT Satellite Company Limited, a leading satellite operator in the Asia Pacific Region, for the design, manufacture, and delivery on ground of a high-capacity telecommunication satellite. The contract also includes Launch Campaign, Launch and Early Operational Phase, In Orbit Tests as well as On Site Support, Dynamic Satellite Simulator, Satellite Control Centre and Baseband Subsystem.

APSTAR 7B will serve as a back-up satellite for the Apstar-7 launch, which Thales Alenia Space is currently building under contract with APT. The satellite is to be designed to provide reliable broadcasting and telecommunications services over an hemispheric coverage, the Asia Pacific Region, as well as the MENA area. Based on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000 C2 platform, APSTAR 7B has technical characteristics similar to Apstar 7 and is expected to have a minimum of 15 years lifetime.