The Intelsat-10 satellites (Intelsat 10-01 and Intelsat 10-02)
are the largest and most powerful satellites ever procured by Intelsat, the international
telecommunications satellite operator, to provide various communications services
including fixed telephone and data services, broadcast and news gathering to cover the
whole American continent as well as Western Europe. Both satellites will have a launch
mass of around 5500 kg and a payload power of approximately 8 kW, but will be configured
for different missions. Intelsat 10-02, to be located at 359 degrees East, will have 45
C-band active transponders and 16 Ku-band. The satellites are due for delivery in 2003.
As prime contractor, Astrium delivered both the platform (based on the high-power Eurostar-3000 version of the
company's Eurostar series) and the payload.
Telenor uses half of the Ku-band capacity of the satellite, which is marketed as Thor 10-02.
Running low on fuel, Intelsat 10-02 will receive a life-extension by the MEV 2 satellite-servicing mission in 2020.
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