Loral building Intelsat
Americas-9 satellite
LORAL NEWS RELEASE
Posted: November 1, 2004
spaceflightnow
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) announced today that, pursuant to
the contract entered into in March 2004, it has reached agreement
with Intelsat LLC for the design of Intelsat Americas-9 (IA-9), a
high-power, C- and Ku-band satellite that will provide service to
North America, Central America and the Caribbean. SS/L has
been authorized to proceed on the manufacture of IA-9
immediately.
"Throughout Intelsat and SS/L's long history of collaboration on
satellite projects, the two teams have worked closely to make
each satellite a premier communications platform for Intelsat's
customers," said Pat DeWitt, president of SS/L. "SS/L is pleased
to once again be working together on the latest in satellite
technology with the Intelsat teams in Washington, D.C., Palo Alto
and Bermuda."
The satellite's hybrid C- and Ku-band communications payload
carries a total of 44 operating transponders, selectable among 62
discrete frequencies, providing a total of 1,944 MHz of downlink
capacity. Coverage areas are provided by fixed C- and Ku-band
antennas, in addition to an adjustable Ku-band spot beam that can
be positioned anywhere on the earth's surface visible from the
satellite's orbital position. The satellite is designed to operate from
any of Intelsat's orbital locations from 77 degrees West longitude
to 129 degrees West longitude.
"SS/L has a strong history with Intelsat," according to Intelsat
Global Services Corporation president, Kevin Mulloy. "The
satellites built in SS/L's Palo Alto factory have provided Intelsat
with dynamic and robust capacity around the world. SS/L's
satellites allow Intelsat to offer its customers unparalleled
communications flexibility and services."
The satellite is scheduled for delivery to Intelsat in 2007 and has a
design life of 13 years.
IA-9 will become Intelsat's newest satellite covering North
America and the thirty-second spacecraft built by SS/L for the
international satellite services provider. The Loral-built Intelsat
Americas-8 is currently scheduled for launch in December 2004.
The satellite is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 geostationary
satellite platform, which has a long and proven record of reliable
operation. Currently, there are 47 SS/L 1300 satellites on-orbit,
performing a variety of critical communications functions.
As a global communications leader with 40 years of experience,
Intelsat helps service providers, broadcasters, corporations and
governments deliver information and entertainment anywhere in the
world, instantly, securely and reliably. Intelsat's global reach and
expanding solutions portfolio enable customers to enhance their
communications networks, venture into new markets and grow
their businesses with confidence.
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space &
Communications (OTCBB: LRLSQ), is a premier designer,
manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite
systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services that
include 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 satellites have amassed
more than 1,100 years of reliable on-orbit service. SS/L is ISO
9001:2000 certified.
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications
company. In addition to Space Systems/Loral, through its Skynet
subsidiary Loral owns and operates a fleet of telecommunications
satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming, and
for broadband data transmission, Internet services and other
value-added communications services |
