France in Space #219
** 1: LARGE SATELLITE ASTRA 1K LEFT FROM ALCATEL TO BAIKONUR
On the night of October 24-25, the Astra 1K communications satellite left
Alcatel Space facility, in Cannes (South East of France), for shipment to
the Baikonur launch base in Kazakhstan. The satellite was built for the
European operator SES ASTRA, which is a subsidiary of SES GLOBAL. The
launch has been scheduled for the end of November, on a Proton rocket.
Astra 1K is not only the largest satellite ever built by Alcatel Space, but
also the largest civil communications satellite worldwide. It will be
performing three very demanding missions for SES ASTRA. Astra 1K will
replace three Astra satellites that are currently in orbit, and it will
also be an in-orbit spare for four others. Simultaneously, it will provide
a multi-mission flexibility, which includes Ku-band frequency reuse, and
Ka-band multimedia services. It offers pan-European coverage, extending
from Spain and Portugal to the rest of continental Europe. Based on the
Spacebus 4000 platform, Astra 1K is equipped with 52 Ku-band and 2 Ka-band
transponders. It will be positioned at 19.2 degrees east. Astra 1K has: a
5,253-kilogram weight at liftoff; a 13 kW end-of-life power; a total
37-meter span; a 6.6-meter height; and 10 different antenna reflectors.
[Alcatel Press Release, 10/25/2002]
** 2: STENTOR : EXPERIMENTAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
The launch of STENTOR, which was developed by CNES (French Space Agency)
has been planned for November 28, 2002. The satellite will be launched
aboard a new version of Ariane 5, flight 157 of Arianespace, from the
French Guiana Spaceport in Kourou,. Stentor, the experimental program,
which amounts to 385 million Euros and which was launched in 1994, is being
developed under the aegis of CNES (French Space Agency) in partnership with
France Telecom and DGA (French organization for armament programs).
Astrium, EADS’ subsidiary, and Alcatel Space were in charge of the
industrial development of the satellite. Stentor’s mission is to validate
in flight advanced technologies, which would be integrated into the next
generation of telecommunications spacecraft. During the nine years the
satellite is to be in orbit, the system should enable all actors of space
telecommunications to carry out technical or new application tests. Stentor
will thus contribute to the development of telemedicine and to the Internet
access on planes. Furthermore, it will also have effects on the military
sector.
[AFP, 10/22/2002]
** 3: FRANCE, ITALY AND UK JOIN TO MEET NATO SATCOM REQUIREMENTS
The Defense Ministries of France, Italy and the United Kingdom have jointly
submitted an initial proposal to meet the NATO SATCOM Post-2000 capability
requirements for SHF and UHF space segment. Alcatel Space, Alenia Spazio
and Paradigm Secure Communications, as the national military satellite
communications (Misatcom) providers of these countries, have prepared major
inputs to their governments in the submission of this innovative proposal.
As the current NATO IV satellites approach the end of their lives, NATO is
now calling for a next generation solution to fulfill its ever-increasing
milsatcom requirements. To ensure coherence with the changing NATO crisis
management role and to provide a fully deployable communications capability
in support of such operations, the SATCOM Post-2000 requirements will
update both the space and ground segments to form the future NATO system.
[Alcatel Press Release, Alenia Spazio and Paradigm Secure Communications,
10/28/2002]
** 4: AN ADDITIONAL 7.5% FOR THE 2003 DEFENSE BUDGET
On October 24th, the National Asssembly passed the 2003 Finance bill of the
French defense budget. It aims at putting an end to the decline of the
French defense sector. The French Defense Minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie,
who considers the bill a prerequisite for France’s credibility on the
international scene, has received for her ministry a promise of 31.07
billion Euros for 2003, which represents a 7.5% increase compared to 2002.
This text should be the first constituent of the 2003-2008 military
programming bill, which will be discussed in Parliament at the end of this
year. The first annuity will enable the launch of leveling-up initiatives
of the army. Out of the 13.64 billion Euros dedicated to equipment, the
research department will receive 655 million Euros (+10% compared to 2002),
as was asked by DGA (French organization for armament programs), and
manufacturers. Moreover, 17.43 billion Euros will be dedicated to both the
creation of 2.400 jobs and for future hiring prospects. Finally, the
training of troops and crewmembers will be strengthened through an
additional 3.4 billion Euros.
[Les Echos, 10/25/2002] [From Agence France Presse (AFP), Alcatel Press Release (ALCATEL), Alenia
Spazio, Les Echos, Paradigm Secure Communications]
