NILESAT 301
communications satellite successfully launched
June 9, 2022
The NILESAT 301 communications
satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for the
Egyptian operator NILESAT was successfully launched
today from Cape Canaveral launch pad, Florida (USA),
on board of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Thanks to a powerful Ku-band
mission NILESAT 301 will reinforce NILESAT
commercial leadership in broadcast services at 7°W
over MENA and opening new services over Southern
Africa and Nile Basin. In addition, a state-of-the
art multibeam Ka band mission will support NILESAT
entry in the broadband connectivity market over
Egypt.
As prime contractor, Thales
Alenia Space was responsible for satellite design,
production, testing and in-orbit acceptance tests.
NILESAT will also benefit from brand new satellite
control facilities installed in Cairo and
Alexandria, which are already operational to control
NILESAT 201 in orbit.
The satellite is based on the
Spacebus 4000-B2 platform with about 4 metric tons
at launch and a design life exceeding 15 years.
Following NILESAT 201, NILESAT
301 is the second geostationary communications
satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for NILESAT.
It is also the fourth payload developed by Thales
Alenia Space for the Egyptian operator.
“We are delighted to continue
supporting NILESAT in this growth by delivering
customized satellite products with outstanding
performance”, said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales
Alenia Space. “This achievement proves that our
telecommunications offer perfectly replies to the
telecom market’s needs and that we are perfectly
capable of providing tailored solutions that meet
each operator’s specific requirements, to enhance
global connectivity and reduce the digital divide.”
|