Ellipso, Inc. and Arianespace announce launch and financing agreement
FLORIDA TODAY Space Online
"Planet Earth's best source for online space news"
July 1, 1999
Ellipso, Inc. News Release
WASHINGTON - Ellipso, Inc. and Arianespace, S.A. announced Wednesday an
agreement to provide launch services for the Ellipso(TM) satellite
telecommunications system. The memorandum of agreement covers four Ariane 5
launches and supporting services, and includes a substantial financial package
involving vendor financing and equity investment in Ellipso, Inc.
"Arianespace is the world's preeminent commercial launch services provider," said
Dr. David Castiel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ellipso, Inc. "This
agreement will give our investors confidence that Ellipso's satellites will be launched
on time to the proper orbit. Arianespace's investment further validates Ellipso's
consumer-driven design and demonstrates confidence in the market for mobile
satellite services. We look forward to working with Ariane and getting the Ellipso
system into service as quickly as possible."
Commenting on the accord, Arianespace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Jean-Marie Luton said, "This agreement underscores the ability of Arianespace to
adapt to the needs of our customers for deployment of satellite constellations. Our
financial involvement in the Ellipso project also reflects our commitment to supporting
our customer in the international telecommunications market."
These launches will enable Ellipso to place its satellites into its equatorial orbit,
named Concordia. From the Concordia orbit Ellipso can provide telephone and data
services to over 85% of the world's population. Each Ariane 5 launch can carry up
to four Ellipso satellites, and will take place beginning in 2002.
Arianespace is the international leader in commercial launch services, and today
holds more than 50 percent of the world market for satellites launched to
geostationary transfer orbit. From its creation in 1980 as the first commercial space
transportation company, Arianespace has signed launch contracts with more than 50
operators/customers for 199 satellite payloads and one constellation launch. Since
the first flight of an Ariane in 1979, the launcher has successfully injected a total of
155 satellites and 27 auxiliary payloads into orbit.
Ellipso, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., is currently designing and
constructing the Ellipso satellite-based global communications system that will
provide low cost and high quality digital voice and data services worldwide. Utilizing
unique and patented elliptical orbits, the Ellipso system will provide voice, data,
facsimile, paging and geolocational services to subscribers around the world at prices
significantly lower than competing systems. The Ellipso project includes the
participation of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, the Harris
Corporation, L-3 Communications, Israel Aircraft Industries and The Boeing
Company.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service updated February 1998.
Please e-mail comments or questions about this page to Space Online Editor Mark DeCotis.
Contact Space Online Manager Jim Banke to inquire about becoming a sponsor.
This World Wide Web site is copyright © 1999 FLORIDA TODAY.
|
