EADS Astrium won a satellite manufacturing contract in Korea to manufacture that country’s first multi-function geostationary satellite, named Coms. Korea Aerospace and Research Institute (KARI) selected Astrium to build this satellite. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Coms will provide meteorology data to end-users around the globe, oceanography data for the Korean peninsula and experimental communications services in Ka-band. The satellite will potentially be placed into geostationary orbit at one of two potential orbital locations, 116º East or 138 degrees East. The satellite will provide services for a minimum of seven years.

Antoine Bouvier, CEO of EADS Astrium hopes the company can build on its relationship with KARI further. He said, “I am delighted that we have won this contract for Korea’s first multi-mission geostationary satellite. It demonstrates KARI’s confidence in EADS Astrium and builds on the success already achieved with the Korean observation satellite Kompsat 2 due for launch in November this year. I am confident that these contracts will pave the way for further successful, long-term cooperation with KARI.”