Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) has awarded a construction order for the ABS-8 satellite to Boeing Satellite Systems. The ABS-8 spacecraft will use an “all electric” Boeing BSS-702 SP bus design and will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9v1.1 launch vehicle as part of a matched pair with another unnamed Boeing BSS-702 bus satellite. The launch will take place in late 2017.
Comment by David Todd: Boeing has done a similar dual launch on a Falcon 9v1.1. before when its ABS-3A flew with Eutelsat 115 West B with both using Boeing-702 SP buses with one mounted directly atop the other.
