SSL (Space Systems/Loral) has been awarded a contract by the European satellite operator Eutelsat to build a new communcations satellite called Eutelsat 7C. The satellite, which will use a version of the SSL-1300 spacecraft bus, will operate in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) over the longitudinal position of 7 degrees East. The communications payload will consist entirely of 44 transponders operating in the Ku-band. The satellite will provide broadcast services to multiple regions including Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey. It will exclusively use electric propulsion for orbit raising as well as station keeping and has a minimum design life of 15 years.
