: Aug 18, 2020 -
: 9:14 am
Arabsat has contracted Airbus to build its new generation telecommunications satellite BADR-8.
BADR-8 will replace and increase Arabsat’s capacity and augment its core business at the BADR hotspot 26°E. The new satellite is scheduled for launch in 2023.
Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems, said: “This important contract with our long-standing customer Arabsat has a special significance for Airbus Defence and Space. It is the first seventh-generation Arabsat satellite and the first Eurostar Neo satellite we are building for Arabsat after six previous Eurostar satellites. BADR-8 incorporates the best of our expertise and technologies, including a very innovative optical communications hosted payload. This further strengthens our continuing strategic partnership with the Arab Satellite Communications Organisation, which has been connecting people by satellite across the Middle East and the world for more than 40 years.”
Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO of Arabsat said “We are delighted to sign this contract with our long term partner Airbus. It marks another milestone in our objectives to provide customers with premium satellite technology with the highest level of performance, and to expand reliability and service security. BADR-8 will be joining our Badr-network at Arabsat 26°E hotspot, expanding our service over EMEA region.”
The BADR-8 satellite will be based on the-state-of-the-art Airbus Eurostar Neo electric orbit raising platform giving access to a wide range of launchers.
Airbus’ innovative TELEO optical communications payload demonstrator will be included in BADR-8, which will enable very high capacity analogue optical feeder link communications which is highly robust against jamming.
The satellite and its electric propulsion system will enable it to reach geostationary orbit in four to five months, depending on the type of launcher used.
It can remain in service in orbit for more than 15 years. The satellite will have a launch mass of around 4.5 tonnes and power of 17 kW.
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