* Astronomy

Astrium Satellites delivers ARABSAT’s BADR-4 in orbit
The BADR-4 satellite built by Astrium Satellites has been handed over to ARABSAT as part of the in-orbit delivery contract and has entered commercial service.

The BADR-4 satellite, built by Astrium Satellites for ARABSAT, the communications satellite operator based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will carry Direct-To-Home television services, together with voice and data telecommunications services, across the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as parts of Europe.
The Astrium control centre in Toulouse began operating the BADR-4 satellite following its launch from Baikonur on 9 November 2006. The satellite arrived in geostationary orbit on 13 November, where it was comprehensively tested to ensure that all spacecraft functions were performing as expected. ARABSAT officially took possession of the fully operational satellite on 30 November, just three weeks after the launch.
The entry into commercial service of the first of its 4th generation satellites at ARABSAT's 26 degrees East video 'hot spot' represents the realisation of a critical primary milestone in the regional leading operator's new aggressive deployment strategy over the MENA markets, and well beyond, for the forthcoming 20 years.
Astrium Satellites is prime contractor for the satellite and responsible for launch and early operations as part of the in-orbit delivery contract. Astrium has also developed the Satellite Control Centres in Dirab (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and in Tunis (Tunisia). The communications payload for the satellite was supplied by Alcatel Alenia Space.
The BADR-4 satellite is a Eurostar E2000+ model with a launch mass of 3,280 kg, equipped with a payload featuring 32 transponders in Ku-band. It is the 31st Eurostar to enter operational service in orbit.

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