Arabsat Badr-8 Successfully Launched from Florida

The Airbus-built Arabsat Badr-8 telecommunications satellite has been successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Based on Airbus’ latest geostationary Eurostar Neo satellite, Badr-8 will provide connectivity for users across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and central Asia.

"Featuring increased payload capacity and more efficient power and thermal control systems, Badr-8 will replace and increase Arabsat’s capacity."

Jean Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems

The spacecraft is also equipped with a world first, Airbus’ innovative space demonstrator TELEO to provide space to ground optical communications at gigabit speeds. The TELEO demonstrator payload is designed to facilitate very high capacity optical feeder link communications, playing a crucial role in Airbus’ development of a new generation of optical communications technology in space.

“Marking our third successful launch of the Eurostar Neo series and our eighth spacecraft built for Arabsat, Badr-8, equipped with the very innovative TELEO payload, is the latest major milestone for our telecoms business," said Jean Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems. "Featuring increased payload capacity and more efficient power and thermal control systems, Badr-8 will replace and increase Arabsat’s capacity."

Arabsat Badr-8 Uses Electric Thrusters

Following the successful launch and separation, Badr-8 is using its electric propulsion system to reach geostationary orbit at 36,000 km (≈22,300 miles). The satellite will then undergo a comprehensive testing period in geostationary orbit before entering full service. With a launch mass of 4.5 tons and 17.8 kW of power, the satellite is designed to operate in orbit for 15 years. Airbus’ geostationary telecommunications satellites have achieved more than 1,300 years of service in orbit.

Airbus’ Eurostar Neo platform has been developed in the frame of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Partnership Projects, together with the French space agency CNES, and strongly supported by the UK Space Agency and other agencies across Europe. The TELEO demonstrator payload was developed with support from CNES. The Eurostar Neo product is optimized for the use of full electric propulsion and employs state-of-the-art technologies and innovative solutions, along with a versatile but standardized approach to payload equipment layout. Together these increase the competitiveness of the product by reducing costs and development time.

(Source: Airbus news release. Images provided and from file)