[Satellite TODAY 12-24-09] Thales Alenia Space and Orbital Sciences won contracts to build a new geosynchronous communications satellite contract for OverHorizon, the companies announced Dec. 23.
    Both Thales Alenia Space and Orbital will share in the contract responsibilities as co-prime partners. The satellite will carry an on-board processing payload provided by Thales Alenia Space, mounted on a Star 2.3 satellite platform provided by Orbital, with delivery slated for early 2012.
   “We are very pleased to be working together with Thales Alenia Space and Orbital to provide this new satellite to meet the significant demand for true mobile broadband communication from government, media and NGO customers operating in areas with limited or no communications’ infrastructure,” OverHorizon President James Gerow said in a statement.
    Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.