Article Posted on : - Oct 14, 2010

An artististic concept of ABS-2 satellite. Photo: Space Systems/Loral.

HONG KONG (BNS): Space Systems/Loral has received a contract to manufacture ABS-2 spacecraft for ABS satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2013.

The total value of the contract was not made public by the company.

ABS-2 will be one of the most powerful commercial satellites launched for service in the Eastern Hemisphere. The satellite will have over 12 kW of payload power and up to a total of 87 active C-band, Ku-band and Ka-band transponders across 10 different beams bringing increased capacity and transmission power to the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and CIS/Russia.

The ABS-2 spacecraft is based on Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 satellite bus, with a separated mass in excess of 6,000 Kg at launch and is designed for 15 years of operational life.

ABS-2 will be located at the 75° East Longitude, ABS' prime orbital location where ABS-1, ABS-1A, and ABS-1B are currently located.

“We are very excited to confirm that Space Systems/Loral will build the ABS-2 spacecraft. We chose SS/L for their industry leadership, quality, reliability and the performance of their products and services, ” Tom Choi, CEO of Asia Broadcast Satellite, said.

“It is communications satellites such as ABS-2 that help bring essential services to even the most remote areas,” said John Celli, president of SS/L.

With the addition of ABS-2 to its fleet, ABS will become one of the largest FSS satellite operators in Asia in terms of number of active transponders in orbit.