ASTRIUM, Europe’s leading space company, has been selected by DIRECTV to design and manufacture DIRECTV 15, a new high power telecommunications satellite to provide back-up capacity and fleet expansion for television services to US customers in homes and businesses. The satellite is scheduled for launch in 2014.

Based on the company’s highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform, the new satellite will have a payload comprising 30 high power transponders in Ku-Band, 24 transponders in Ka-Band, 18 transponders in Reverse Band, and will be able to operate from up to five orbital locations from 99°W to 119°W, covering Continental US (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Philip Goswitz, DIRECTV Senior Vice President of Space & Communications said, “DIRECTV is pleased to start a new relationship with ASTRIUM, the leading provider of satellite systems in Europe, with their well established reputation for technical excellence and high reliability.”

Evert Dudok, CEO of ASTRIUM Satellites, said, “To win such a contract in the US is a major success and demonstrates ASTRIUM’s competitiveness on the global market. The ASTRIUM Eurostar satellite is highly appreciated by our customers worldwide. We will work closely with DIRECTV, and ASTRIUM is committed to delivering a spacecraft that meets all of their requirements, on quality and on schedule.”