Alphasat: Technology demonstration

Europe's powerful new communications satellite, Alphasat, is due for launch on top of an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The mission -- a partnership between the European Space Agency and commercial operator Inmarsat -- will be the first test of Alphabus, the large Platform developed by ESA and CNES with Astrium and Thales Alenia.

Alphasat is considered as the most sophisticated commercial communications satellite ever flown with several technological innovations. In addition to its major payload for Inmarsat's global mobile communications, the spacecraft also hosts four Technology Demonstration Payloads developed through ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme. It includes for example a new laser communications system.