[Satellite TODAY 11-30-09] Astrium won a contract worth more than 500 million euros ($749.4 million) to build four satellites for SES, the operator announced Nov. 30.
    These satellites, to be designated Astra 2E, Astra 2F, Astra 2G and Astra 5B, will provide replacement as well as incremental capacity for SES’ Astra and World Skies divisions and allow the release of the existing satellites at two orbital positions (28.2 and 31.5 degrees East).
    Three of the new spacecraft, Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G, are intended to deliver next-generation broadcast, VSAT and broadband services in Europe and Africa and will carry Ku- and Ka-band payloads at 28.2 degrees East. Astra 5B will be deployed at 31.5 degrees East, extending SES Astra ‘s transponder capacity and geographical reach over Eastern European and neighboring markets for DTH, direct-to-cable and contribution feeds to digital terrestrial television networks.
   The satellites are scheduled for launch in several steps between 2012 and 2014.

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