Airbus : Defence and Space to launch DIRECTV 15, its 100th geostationary telecommunications satellite

The launch of DIRECTV 15, the United States' most powerful television broadcasting satellite, is scheduled for 27 May from Kourou on board an Ariane 5 launcher. Airbus Defence and Space, the world's second largest space company, is the prime contractor for both the Ariane 5 launcher and DIRECTV 15.

"DIRECTV 15 is not just the 100th telecommunications satellite we have built for geostationary orbit - it is also the most powerful television broadcasting satellite ever built in Europe, the most powerful used in the USA and our 8th satellite to use electric propulsion for station-keeping," explained François Auque, Head of Space Systems. "This launch once more highlights the expertise and competitiveness of Airbus Defence and Space as the prime contractor for both the DIRECTV 15 satellite and the Ariane 5 launcher."

Based on the proven highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform, DIRECTV 15 will have a launch mass of 6,200 kilograms and an end-of-life power of 18 kW. It will carry a record number of radiofrequency power amplifiers (more than 150). Covering the entirety of the Unites States, DIRECTV 15 will provide additional digital television services to more than 20 million DIRECTV users there.

Airbus Defence and Space has been the single prime contractor for the European Ariane 5 launcher, one of the largest and most ambitious space programmes in the world, since 2003. As a 50% shareholder in Airbus Safran Launchers, the company currently oversees an industrial network that brings together more than 550 companies (more than 20% of which are SMEs) in 12 European countries. It also manages the entire industrial supply chain, from the manufacture of equipment and stages to the complete integration of the launcher in French Guiana, in line with the customer's specifications. Drawing on the expertise Airbus Defence and Space has acquired and the investments it has made over a period of more than 10 years, Ariane 5 has become the most reliable commercial launcher on the global market and has increased its geostationary orbit payload capacity by almost two tonnes. Representing cutting-edge European expertise, the Ariane 5 launcher has been specially designed to inject heavy payloads into orbit.

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe's number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs more than 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year.