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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 4/97 NAHUEL 1A LIFTS OFF by Wolfdietrich Hoeveler Following a textbook launch on board an Ariane 44L on January 29, 1997, Nahuel 1A, Argentinas first telecommunication satellite, is now bringing more TV coverage to South America's rainforest. People in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay can now receive satellite TV channels with smaller 60 centimeter dishes instead of the large satellite dishes. The European launch rocket lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 19.04 local time with the heaviest payload ever carried on board an Ariane 4: Nahuel 1A and the American telecommunication satellite GE 2 (which covers the USA and Central America) together weighed 4,9 tons. The successful launch of the two satellites into a geostationary orbit was a good start for Dasa into the new year. Werner Heinzmann, member of the board of Daimler-Benz Aerospace, is pleased for more than one reason. With Nahuel 1A, Dasa not only has sold a satellite but, an entire system, including the ground infrastructure and the marketing of the 18 Ku-Band transponders. Dasa is now supplying complete systems in the civil commercial market and can truly be called an operator. Not only was the first Nahuel satellite launched into space under the lead of the German company, the marketing company Nahuelsat, based in Buenos Aires, is also acquiring orders for the future. Only few doubt that a second Nahuel satellite will be launched at the beginning of next year and that the offered transponders will be sold. 60 percent of Nahuel 1A's capacity was sold before the satellite was launched. The satellite (weighing 1790 kg at take-off) is designed for a service life of twelve years. However, since the launch into the transferorbit went better than expected, using less fuel than anticipated to bring the satellite into its transmitting position, the lifespan will probably be significantly longer. Dasa had acquired the Nahuel order on December 16, 1992. The German company succeeded against a strong international competition. The good relations and the high reputation of the Daimler-Benz concern obviously helped. The project was not undisputed within the company since an investment volume of $250 million was at stake. In the end, the entrepreneurial spirit succeeded and Dasa's board gave a green light for the project. Dasa partner Aérospatiale, as subcontractor, built the satellite based on the Spacebus 2000 which was used also with Eutelsat's Hot Birds and the Turksats. Alenia was selected to build the ground infrastructure, and all three European companies participate with a 31 percent share in the $100 million joint stock. The rest is in the hands of GE America Communication (17,25 percent) and Argentinean partners. The three European companies have advance financed the second satellite which will be completed in summer of this year. Nahuelsat must invest 180 to 200 million dollars to launch and buy the satellite. Dasa has undoubtedly gained international importance with the Nahuel project. The same applies to Dasa's role in the joint-venture EurasSpace in which Dasa is cooperating with the Chinese CASC. The prospects for a voluminous and good business in China's telecommunication market have never been better for Dasa. From page 38 of FLUG REVUE 4/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 4/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated March 7, 1997