Astrium awarded Anik satellite contract by Telesat Canada

05 February 2003

Astrium has been selected, following an international competition, by Telesat to build the ANIK F1R satellite. Planned to enter into service mid 2005, ANIK F1R will provide fixed satellite communications services in C and Ku-bands over a large zone covering North America from the 107.3°degree West Longitude orbit location.

Astrium, as prime contractor for ANIK F1R, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. Canadian industry will supply a significant part of the spacecraft equipment and technology. The satellite will provide a full range of fixed satellite communications services that include telephony, business communications, Internet-based services and television transmission and is equipped with 24 transponders in C-band and 32 transponders in Ku-band.

The spacecraft will have a launch mass of 4 tons, a solar array span of 35 metres once deployed in orbit, and spacecraft power of 10 kW at end of life. The satellite, operating in geostationary orbit, will provide commercial services for a minimum of 15 years. ANIK F1R is based on the E3000 version of the Eurostar family, already ordered by four major satellite operators. Thirty-three Eurostar spacecrafts have been ordered to date, of which twenty-two have already been launched and have proven highly reliable in operational service.

“When Telesat selects a satellite manufacturer, our number one priority is always providing high-quality, reliable service to our customers – as we’ve been doing for more than thirty years”, said Larry Boisvert, Telesat’s President and CEO. “Astrium offered Telesat the right blend of experience, innovation and ease of doing business, and we look forward to working with their team”.

Antoine Bouvier, CEO of Astrium, said: “We are delighted to add Telesat as a new customer of Astrium satellites. This contract heralds a new phase of cooperation with Telesat with whom we have been working for several years. Telesat is recognized worldwide for its technical expertise. Their decision to select us for this procurement is an acknowledgement of the reliability demonstrated by the Eurostar series, and a proof of the competitiveness of our E3000 product line”.

Telesat ( www.telesat.ca ) is a world leader in satellite operations and systems management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today, Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., one of the world’s premier communications companies.

ASTRIUM will be owned at 100% by EADS, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. In 2001 Astrium had a turnover of 1.9 billion Euros with 8 400 employees in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain. Astrium is currently focusing on its satellite business activities covering civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation, science and navigation programmes, avionics and equipments.

For more information, please contact :

ASTRIUM (FR)
Rémi ROLAND
++33 (0) 34 88 35 78

ASTRIUM (UK)
Alistair SCOTT
++44 (0) 1438 773698

ASTRIUM (GER)
Mathias PIKELJ
++49 (0) 7545 8 91 23
Mathias SPUDE
++49 (0421)539-5

ANIK F1R technical characteristics

Spacecraft:	E3000S
Main body dimensions:
Height:	4.8 m
Length:	2.4 m
Width:	2.9 m
Solar Array Span deployed:	35 m
Launch mas:	4 tons
DC Power / End of life:	10 kW
Design lifetime:	15 years +
Orbital position:	Geostationary orbit, 107.3 degrees West longitude
Payload
Frequency bands:	C and Ku
Number of transponders:	24 transponders in C-band 32 transponders in Ku-band
Payload power:	8 kW +
Antennas:	Two 2.4-m diameter deployable reflectors
Coverage:	Canada and USA in C-band Canada, USA and Mexico in Ku band
Channel Bandwidths:	36 MHz in C-band 27 MHz in Ku-ban

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