The European spatial consortium Arianespace and the manufacturer of satellites franco-Italian Thales Alenia Space they have announced a contract to throw in 2010 the satellite panafricano that it will replace the Rascom-QAF1, which useful life was reduced from 15 to 2 years due to a technical problem.

The so called one Rascom-QAF1R will offer telecommunications services in the rural African areas, inter-city and international connections, direct television and access to Internet.

The new satellite will substitute the Rascom-QAF1, which could not be put in his correct orbit because of a technical problem after his throwing, in December, 2007.

Four weeks later it could be placed in his geostationary orbit, to 36.000 kilometers high, but the maneuvers consumed helium, what reduced "greatly" his useful life, reducing it of 15 years to only 2.

The new satellite based on a platform Spacebuss 4000 B3, there will be put in orbit by a shuttle Ariane 5 or Soyuz, told Arianespace in a bulletin from the spatial Kuru base, in the French Guyana.

The Rascom-QAF1R will be equipped by 12 repeaters of band Ku and 8 of band C and will have a weight in the 3.200 kilos throwing.


(Efe, 23/10/08)