Cannes, May 12th, 2014 – Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a contract with the Korean satellite service operator KT Sat, subsidiary of KT Corporation, to build two telecommunications satellites, Koreasat-7 and Koreasat-5A, winning the contract against an international field of competitors. The two satellites will provide Internet access, multimedia, broadcasting and fixed communications services.As program prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is in charge of the design, production, testing and On Ground Delivery (OGD) of the satellites. It will also take charge of the launch campaigns, the launch and early operations phase (LEOP) and in-orbit tests (IOT).Built on the Upgraded Spacebus 4000B2 platform from Thales Alenia Space, Koreasat-7 will be fitted with Ku-band transponders and Ka-band transponders. Koreasat-5A will carry Ku-band transponders. Koreasat-7's coverage zone encompasses Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and India, while Koreasat-5A will cover Korea, Japan, Indochina and the Middle East. Each satellite will weigh about 3,500 kg at launch and will offer payload power of about 7 kW. Koreasat-7 will be positioned at 116° East and Koreasat-5A at 113° East."I would like to express my warm thanks to KT Sat for choosing us to build these two new telecommunications satellites," said Jean-Loïc Galle, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "KT Sat is a long-standing customer, for whom we already built the Koreasat-5 and Koreasat-6 satellites. Through this new contract, we are delighted to support the development of large-scale space programs in South Korea, and in Asia in general."
Cannes, October 12, 2015 – The Koreasat 5A and Koreasat 7 telecommunications satellites currently under construction by Thales Alenia Space will include the largest spacecraft parts ever made in Europe using a 3D printing technique called the “powder bed additive manufacturing process”. Measuring some 45cm by 40cm by 21cm, these telemetry and command antenna supports are made of aluminum. The parts for the two satellites are identical and were made in the same batch by the same machine.Thales Alenia Space uses the Concept Laser Xline 1000R 3D printer, the largest laser beam melting machine in Europe, belonging to Poly-Shape, a French company and partner of Thales Alenia Space.These two parts, featuring an innovative bio-design, have just passed their vibration acceptance tests, demonstrating perfectly reproducible dynamic behavior. Using 3D printing technology on this type of part offers a number of advantages, including 22% weight savings, a decrease in the production schedule of around one or two months, about 30% cost savings, and higher performance.An antenna support of this type is already in orbit since April 2015 on the TurkmenAlem satellite also built by Thales Alenia Space.
Per L2, this mission is "Range Approved" by the Eastern Range for 39A, with a launch window opening at 15:34 Eastern, running through to 17:58 on October 30. The Static Fire has been placed in the schedule for October 26.
SpaceX rolls out next Falcon 9 rocket for hold-down test-firing today at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. spaceflightnow.com/2017/10/26/falcon-9-koreasat-5a-launch-pre…
SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 rocket is being fueled for test-firing in Florida. Spaceflight Now Members can watch live. spaceflightnow.com/2017/10/26/falcon-9-koreasat-5a-launch-pr…
🚀🚀SpaceX Static 🔥 Fire test maybe 🙃😎😒
SpaceX has test-fired Falcon 9 rocket at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of a planned launch Monday. spaceflightnow.com/2017/10/26/fa...
F9/Koreasat5: Gorgeous day for a hotfire test! Wind out of the north, blows exhaust cloud back past vehicle
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting October 30 launch of Koreasat-5A from Pad 39A in Florida.
Heading out to sea #OCISLY to position for the Falcon return. #KoreaSat5A #OCISLY #SpaceX