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European Space Agency

Press Release

Alcatel Space and Astrium forge agreement for AlphaBus

20 June 2003
 
The European satellite communications industry today reached a
landmark of cooperation at Le Bourget air show in France. The accord
regards collaboration on large space platform AlphaBus. 
 
The two major satellite manufacturers Alcatel Space and Astrium, made
the announcement jointly from the European Space Agency (ESA)
pavilion of the Paris event.

Pascale Sourisse, chairman and CEO of Acatel Space, and Antoine
Bouvier, chairman and CEO of Astrium, both explained that the
agreement was crucial for the survival of the European satellite
telecommunications sector.

According to Claudio Mastracci, ESA Director of Applications, "this
agreement is a historical decision that sees two main actors like
Alcatel Space and Astrium join forces on an ambitious project that
will keep Europe at the forefront of the key satellite
telecommunications sector. The success of this project is essential
for Europe's future in space".

AlphaBus is indeed Europe's contender in the large satcom platforms
market. It is a high-performance satellite: increasingly powerful and
reliable satellites with ever-greater payload capacity are being
developed to meet the requirements of telecommunications from
geostationary orbits. This trend has brought costs down, making
satellite services affordable to more users. The sector is evolving
continuously, from telephony to direct TV broadcasting, now preparing
to meet demand for a new generation of multimedia and mobile
services. 

AlphaBus is destined to be an innovative and competitive product
line. It will offer payload power of 12 kW to 18 kW initially, with
substantial growth potential. This will make for still lower service
costs for users, and the platform will be able to handle new types of
mission - such as those needed to fly the very large antennas
associated with next-generation payloads. 

AlphaBus is a true product of European industry since it will combine
high-tech equipment supplied by European companies, with Alcatel
Space and Astrium as prime contractors. Thus a major European
industrial contender will enter the world market with a unique
product to go alongside the current Spacebus and Eurostar ranges.
Alcatel and Astrium have concluded a joint marketing agreement for
satellites using the new platform. An integrated Alcatel/Astrium
project team is already in place, doing preparatory work on
development of the AlphaBus line and its qualification on the ground.

AlphaBus was established through close cooperation between ESA and
French space agency CNES. The first phase of the programme was given
the go-ahead by the ESA Member States at the ministerial Council
meeting held at Edinburgh in November 2001.

The definition phase, started in September 2002, is based on
predevelopment of the most critical technologies. An integrated
CNES/ESA project team, based in Toulouse, is in overall charge, as
joint principal, of developing AlphaBus.

The CNES programme schedule endorsed by the Board on 30 April 2003
includes AlphaBus in the new projects to be taken to the development
phase. ESA is preparing an in-flight validation programme for the
AlphaBus platform. It will offer a unique opportunity to fly
innovative payloads with enhanced capabilities and new satellite
communication missions.

The first launch of a satellite from the AlphaBus product line is
planned for 2007. The leading European players in the satellite
sector have pooled the best of their expertise to provide Europe with
a platform that has a vital role to play in the development of
satellite communications. AlphaBus will be the European solution for
satellite communication operators in the over 12 kw sector of the
market.

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