Paris, August 22, 2006 - Alcatel Alenia Space announced the successful launch of Koreasat 5, the hybrid military and civilian communications satellite for South Korea. Koreasat 5 is jointly owned by the Agency for Defense Development and KT Corporation of South Korea. This launch took place on August 21st at 8:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time (03:27 GMT, Aug. 22 ) by Sea Launch Company on a Zenit-3SL rocket at 154 degrees West Longitude on the Equator. The Koreasat 5 satellite was placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to reach after the completion of the Launch Early Operations a final orbital position of 113 degrees East.

Koreasat 5 will offer secured military communications for the Korean defense forces. It will also serve KT’s satellite business by broadening the DTH TV offer in Korea.

Designed, manufactured and integrated by prime contractor Alcatel Alenia Space, Koreasat 5 is a 4,448 Kg (9,806 Lb) satellite based on a Spacebus 4000 C1 platform. It brings 36 active transponders in Ku-band for the commercial mission and in Ka and SHF-bands for military purpose. Koreasat 5 will deliver advanced broadband multimedia and digital television transmission services, along with conventional telecom services to operators in the Asia-Pacific region. It features state-of-the-art broadband payload, including new technologies developed within the scope of European military programs. This satellite will provide 8.6 kW of electrical power and its lifetime is expected to extend beyond 15 years.

"The Koreasat 5 launch further strengthens the solid ties between our company and the Republic of Korea and together with our involvement in the Kompsat 2 and Kompsat 5 programs illustrates our active participation in Asia space project developments. Our ability to deliver dual (civil/military) solutions and our strong heritage have allowed us to provide upper technologies to meet the requirements of both our customers KT and ADD", said Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space.

Source: Alcatel Alenia Space
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