The Canada-based satellite operator Telesat has ordered a replacement for the Telstar 12 communications satellite from the European spacecraft manufacturer Astrium. The satellite will use a version of Astrium’s EUROSTAR E3000 bus design/platform and is expected to be launched in Q4 2015. The satellite will serve the Mediterannean and Atlantic for mobile maritime and aeronautical uses, as well as providing more conventional communicaitons for Africa, Europe and the Middle East from its 15 degrees west orbital location on the geostationary arc.
Comment by David Todd: For the time being, until an official name is confirmed, Flightglobal has named this satellite Telstar 12R on the Flightglobal/Ascend SpaceTrak database.
