Nilesat shall reward SpaceX the launch service for Nilesat-301 geostationary communications satellite due in 2022. Once delivered to SpaceX, NileSat-301 will be fitted on to a SpaceX Falcon 9 Satellite Launch Vehicle and launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, United States.
The deal was sealed between Nilesat and SpaceX in Cairo on Tuesday and represents the first cooperation between the two companies. All Nilesat’s previous satellites had been launched through Ariane Space.
Last year, Nilesat awarded Thales Alenia Space the contract to manufacture the new communications Nilesat-301. Based on the Spacebus 4000B2 platform, Nilesat-301 has a development timeline of 25 months and is expected to last over 15 years in orbit upon launch in first quarter of 2022.
Nilesat-301 will deliver communications and direct digital broadcasting services to Nilesat’s existing customer base and help extend the companies footprint in new markets in North Africa, Middle East, Sudan and East Africa.
