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Successful launch of Koreasat-6 telecommunication satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space in partnership with Orbital Sciences

30 December 2010

Cannes, December 30, 2010 – Koreasat-6 (renamed Mugunghwa-6), the South Korea’s commercial telecommunication satellite, was successfully launched yesterday by Arianespace from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana. Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor, teamed with U.S manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) who provided satellite platform.

Thales Alenia Space was in charge for design, manufacturing and test of the Koreasat-6 satellite and Ground Segment, as well as Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP), In-Orbit Test (IOT) support and associated services. Thales Alenia Space has procured Orbital’s STARTM platform, and has manufactured the communications payload.

Designed for 15 years lifetime, Koreasat-6 satellite has 30 active Ku-band transponders with 2850 kg launch mass, and 3,4 kW electrical power. The satellite will provide broadcasting and telecommunications services over Korea from its orbital position at 116 degrees East, and will replace Koreasat-3 that will be decommissioned next year.

Emmanuel Grave, Vice President Telecommunication of Thales Alenia Space stated: “KT Corporation is one of Thales Alenia Space’s key customers in the Asia Pacific Region, and we are very pleased to help them offering new high-value services to their customers.”

About Thales Alenia Space
The European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups’ “Space Alliance”. Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. The company achieved revenues of Euro 2 billion in 2009 and has a total of 7,200 employees located in 9 industrial sites in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium.
www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales Alenia Space Press Contact
Florence Pontieux - Tel: +33 (0)1 57 77 91 26
florence.pontieux@thalesaleniaspace.com

Sandrine Bielecki - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com