(SatNews.com) – Thales Alenia Space won the bid to deliver a satellite, as well as all the fixings — ground stations and associated services.

Spacebus is a satellite bus produced at the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center in France by Thales Alenia Space. Spacebuses are typically used for geostationary communications satellites, and fifty-two have been launched since development started in the 1980s. Spacebus was originally produced by Aérospatiale and later passed to Alcatel Alenia Space. In 2006, it was sold to Thales Group as Thales Alenia Space. Several variants have been built: the early Spacebus 100 and Spacebus 300; followed by the Spacebus 2000, optimised for launch on the Ariane 4 carrier rocket; and the subsequent modular Spacebus 3000 and 4000 series, designed for use with the Ariane 5 rocket. Some Spacebus satellites are built using alternatives to US ITAR-controlled components, making it one of a few Western satellites that can be launched by Chinese Long March rockets.
The Spacebus 4000 series was derived from the 3000 series but featured upgraded avionics. The potential difference of the electrical system was increased from 50 volts to 100 volts, and an integrated onboard computer, designed to be more flexible than previous versions, was added. It was also the first satellite bus to be equipped with an attitude and orbit control system with star trackers designed for use in geostationary orbit. The Spacebus 4000C2, which has a height of 4.5 metres, generates 10.5 kW (14.1 hp) of power. Five have been ordered, all using the ITAR-free option, by companies in the Peoples’ Republic of China. All were launched by Long March 3B rockets from Launch Area 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.

Thales Alenia Space announced a contract with Turkmenistan Ministry of communication for the design, manufacture and delivery of the first Turkmenistan Telecommunication Satellite. This contract, signed under the presence of Turkmenistan highest authorities, also includes the ground segment means for two Satellite Ground Control Stations, and all its associated services.

Through an intensive training associated to an internship program, the Turkmenistan Satellite operator team will receive all the expertise and support from Thales Alenia Space engineers to operate safely the spacecraft.

This high performance satellite within the Spacebus 4000 family for which 16 satellites are currently in use in orbit, will enable Turkmenistan to operate its first National System of Satellite Communications in order to secure and enhance Turkmenistan communication means.

The satellite will be based on Thales Alenia Space Spacebus C2 platform. The launch is scheduled in 2014 for a 15 years lifetime. The satellite, of around 10 KW power and above 4.5 tons’ launch mass, will carry Ku transponders covering large beams over Central Asia Region.

“This is a very important milestone for our customer Turkmenistan Ministry of Communication and for our company, and we would like to thanks all the parties involved in this project since the beginning. All the conclusive work conducted between our respective experts and engineers over the past year has always been driven by the vision set by Turkmenistan President for his country and its communication needs,” said Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “Cooperation with Turkmenistan is strategically important for Thales group and this contract is further reinforcing our already existing relations”, he added.

Turkmenistan Ministry of Communication will use the 52E orbital position of the Principality of Monaco via the Monaco Satellite Operator Space Systems International – Monaco (SSI).