Thor 5

Thor 5 [OSC]

Telenor ASA and Orbital Sciences Corporation announced in September 2005 that they have signed a contract for the delivery of a new geosynchronous communications satellite. The spacecraft, to be called Thor 2R, will be based on Orbital's industry-leading STARTM satellite platform. The new order calls for a 26-month in-orbit delivery schedule. Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, a division of Telenor Broadcast Holding AS, based in Oslo, Norway will own and operate the satellite. Orbital will be responsible for manufacturing and testing the satellite and procuring the dedicated launch service. Telenor has directed Orbital to negotiate with International Launch Services (ILS) for a launch aboard a Proton rocket.

The Thor 2R spacecraft will provide Ku-band fixed telecommunications and direct-to-home television broadcasting services from Telenor's 1 degree West Longitude orbital location. The new satellite will have 24 transponders with three times more payload power (3.6 kilowatts of payload power) compared to the current Thor 2 satellite. Thor 2R will weigh approximately 1960 kg at launch and will improve Telenor's service coverage in the Nordic countries, Europe and the Middle East. Delivery of the satellite is scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2007. The launch on a Proton-M Briz-M rocket allows the satellite to be inserted directly into the geostationary orbit, therfore no apogee engine is needed.

Thor 2R was renamed in early 2007 to Thor 5.