SS/L To Add EGNOS Payload to Sirius 5

[Satellite Today 03-17-09] Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) will add a European Union (EU) navigation payload to SES Astra’s Sirius 5 satellite, SS/L announced March 16.
    SES won the contract from the European Commission (EC) to provide services to the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), and will supply the EU with the tailor-made payload as well as the related necessary ground infrastructure.   
    The navigation payload is a precursor to Galileo, the satellite navigation system under development in Europe. Its mission is to increase the accuracy and reliability of signals from both the GPS satellite navigation system and the Russian Glonass system.
    With the addition of the EGNOS payload, Sirius 5 will operate in Ka-, Ku-, C- and L-band when it is launched in 2011.