XTAR selects Arianespace to
launch the XTAR-EUR satellite
LORAL NEWS RELEASE
Posted: December 18, 2003
XTAR, a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications
and HISDESAT, S.A., today announced that it has entered into
an agreement with Arianespace to launch its XTAR-EUR satellite
aboard an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle. The XTAR-EUR satellite
is now undergoing final testing at Space System/Loral (SS/L) in
Palo Alto, CA. The launch of XTAR-EUR is currently planned for
early second quarter 2004.
With its launch arrangements and funding requirements secured,
XTAR expects to begin offering its X-band services to
government users in the United States, Spain, and other friendly
and allied nations in July 2004, shortly after launch and the
completion of in-orbit testing. Service will commence at the highly
desirable 29 degrees East Longitude orbital slot providing a
footprint extending from the Eastern Atlantic to Southeast Asia.
Weighing 3,600 kilograms at launch, XTAR-EUR is based on
SS/L's space-proven 1300 platform and carries twelve wideband
and high-power X-band transponders. The satellite will feature
on-board switching and multiple steerable theater beams that allow
X-band capacity to follow its users as they travel anywhere within
the footprint of the satellite. XTAR-EUR is designed to operate
with existing and planned defense communications terminals
around the world.
XTAR, LLC is a new satellite communications company
committed to serving the needs of U.S., Spanish and allied
governments. The company is a joint venture between Loral,
which owns 56 percent, and HISDESAT, which owns 44 percent.
XTAR is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has offices in
Madrid, Spain, and Palo Alto, Calif.
HISDESAT Servicios Estratégicos S.A. is a Spanish company
headquartered in Madrid and incorporated in July 17th, 2001.
HISDESAT's aims are the acquisition, operation and
commercialization of Government-oriented space systems,
beginning with satellite government communications in the X-band
and Ka -band frequencies. HISDESAT is owned jointly by
Hispasat, S.A., the Spanish commercial satellite services
company, INSA (100% owned by INTA) and the leaders of
Spain's space industries: EADS-CASA Espacio, INDRA and
SENER. HISDESAT will provide enhanced capabilities, including
Ka-band, for Spain's defense applications.
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications
company. It owns and operates a global fleet of
telecommunications satellites used by television and cable
networks to broadcast video entertainment programming, and by
communication service providers, resellers, corporate and
government customers for broadband data transmission, Internet
services and other value-added communications services. Loral
also is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of
satellites and satellite systems for commercial and government
applications including direct-to-home television, broadband
communications, wireless telephony, weather monitoring and air
traffic management. |
