Loral-Built Optus and Defence C1, One of Most Advanced Communications Satellites Ever Built, Successfully Launched
Wednesday June 11, 9:50 pm ET
Multi-band satellite to fill commercial and military communications needs
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2003-- The Optus and Defence C1 communications satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) under contract from Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for Optus of Australia, was successfully launched at 6:38 p.m. EDT today, sent into space from the Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket. SS/L is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NYSE: LOR - News).
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Optus and Defence C1 is one of the most advanced communications satellites ever built, carrying a total of 16 antennas that will provide 18 beams across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as global beams covering a large area from India to Hawaii. The advanced communications payload operates in four different frequency bands -- commercial services at Ku-band, and military communications at UHF, X- and Ka-bands. It will operate from an orbital slot at 156 degrees East longitude.
"The successful launch of Optus and Defence C1 is the culmination of a unique commercial and military partnership," said Patrick DeWitt, president of SS/L. "Optus and Defence C1 will serve as an important example of the benefits that commercial satellites can provide in certain types of military communications - including reduced costs and shorter deployment times. We are proud to have been chosen to participate in this pioneering effort."
Optus, a leading Australian integrated telecommunications company, will use Optus and Defence C1's Ku-band payload to distribute video, direct-to-home TV, and telephony and Internet connections to remote areas.
For the Australian Department of Defence, the satellite's Ka-band payload will provide high-data-rate broadcast coverage for video, and voice and data communications. The X-band payload will provide medium- to high-data-rate voice and data for land and maritime applications. The UHF payload will provide secure low-rate voice and data communications to mobile platforms.
The Satellite
Optus and Defence C1 is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 geostationary satellite platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. The 1300 is designed to achieve a long life, in this case 15 years. The 1300 achieves high stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias attitude control systems. A system of high-efficiency solar arrays and batteries provide uninterrupted electrical power. Total satellite power will be approximately 10 kW at end of life (EOL), and the spacecraft will have a launch mass of nearly five metric tons. In total, SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,000 years of on-orbit service.
Optus managed the procurement, teamed with the Australian Department of Defence. Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), the prime contractor, teamed with SS/L, which designed, assembled, integrated and tested the spacecraft at its California facility. SS/L also supplied the Ku-band subsystem. MELCO was responsible for the overall payload.
The Companies
Optus is Australia's leading integrated communications company, serving around six million customers each day. The company provides a broad range of communications services including mobile, national and long distance services, local telephony, business network services, Internet and satellite services and subscription television.
Since commencing operations in 1992, Optus has invested more than $7 billion in the construction of fixed, mobile and satellite networks, including central business district and suburban local access networks. These networks provide the company with an advanced technology platform capable of delivering integrated communications, information and entertainment services.
On August 30, 2001, Optus became a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of SingTel, which began trading on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on September 10, 2001, under the ASX code "SGT AU." SingTel is also traded on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) under the SGX code "ST SP."
Space Systems/Loral is a premier designer, manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services, including mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defense communications, environmental monitoring, and air traffic control. SS/L is ISO 9001 certified. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com.
Loral Space & Communications is a high technology company that concentrates primarily on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, broadband data transmission, and Internet services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at www.loral.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, Loral Space & Communications Ltd. or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing, which may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer of the company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety of factors and conditions, which have been described in the section of the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, entitled "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results," and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reader is specifically referred to these documents. |
