Alcatel Alenia Space will manufacture the AMC-21 satellite for SES Americom, which will broadcast programming for PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) affiliated television stations throughout the United States and the Caribbean beginning in 2008, Alcatel announced April 24.

Alcatel Alenia Space will have overall responsibility for the implementation of the program, heading up manufacturing, test and delivery on the ground of the AMC-21, as well as providing launch and early operations, in-orbit testing support and associated services. Alcatel Alenia Space will also provide the communications payload. Orbital Sciences Corp. will provide its Star-2 platform for the project as a subcontractor of Alcatel Alenia Space.

AMC-21 will carry 24 Ku-band transponders and be placed at 125 degreesWest, where it also will expand occasional resources for broadcasters and support enterprise communications networks.