Launch Details
Updated: 2:30 pm ET February 18, 2009
SICRAL 1B / Zenit 3SL
The SICRAL 1B telecommunications satellite is part of the SICRAL System, the first national Italian system for military satellite telecommunications. In addition to SICRAL 1B, which is scheduled to be operational from 2009 until 2011, the system includes the SICRAL 1 satellite and SICRAL 2, which is scheduled to be operational from 2011 until 2026. SICRAL is short for Sistema Italiana de Communicazione Riservente Allarmi). The SICRAL System was developed by the SITAB Consortium, which includes Alenia Spazio, a Finmeccanica Company (70%), Fiat Avio (20%) and Telespazio (10%). SICRAL 1B will provide strategic and tactical communications on Italian and other international territories, mobile communications between terrestrial, naval and air platforms, and UHF and SHF band satellites capacities to NATO forces.
2:30 pm ET February 18, 2009