More info on the Orion birds to be built by SS/L:
flatoday.com
Space Systems/Loral to build Orion 2 Trans-Atlantic satellite
for Loral Orion
New higher-powered satellite furthers global expansion
Loral Space & Communications News Release
NEW YORK - Loral Space & Communications has announced that Space
Systems/Loral (SS/L) will replace Matra Marconi Space as the prime contractor
to build the next Loral Orion Atlantic Ocean region satellite, Orion 2. This satellite
will significantly expand Loral Orion's existing European and Americas coverage.
SS/L will deliver Orion 2 on orbit in mid-1999.
The Orion 2 satellite, featuring 38 high-powered Ku-band transponders, will
cover all of Europe: from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains--and large
sections of North America and Latin America: from eastern Canada to southern
Argentina. In addition, the satellite will deliver spot beam coverage of South
Africa.
"Orion 2, the third operational satellite behind our next-to-be-launched Asian
bird, Orion 3, will complete the current phase of Loral Orion's global expansion,"
said Neil Bauer, president of Loral Orion. "From its ideal orbital location at 12
degrees West Longitude, Orion 2 will provide service to customers among the
major business and population centers on the East Coast of North America, Latin
America, Europe, the Middle East and South Africa, using only one satellite."
The 10 kilowatt Orion 2 satellite will be based on SS/L's flight-proven three-axis,
body-stabilized FS-1300 bus, and will have a mass of 3,800 kilograms, when it is
launched aboard an Ariane 44LP launch vehicle in May 1999. The spacecraft will
have an expected lifetime of 16 years.
"SS/L has added features to its new design of the Orion 2 satellite that expand its
revenue potential," said Robert Berry, president of Space Systems/Loral. "These
features include eight additional transponders, more transmittable power, an
enhanced transponder switching capability, and three additional years in expected
lifetime."
Based in Rockville, Md., Loral Orion, a subsidiary of Loral Space &
Communications, is an international satellite communications company that leases
capacity for video transmissions by television and other program distributors. It
also provides Internet access and private network services directly to Internet
Service Providers and multinational businesses worldwide. Services include data
networking, voice, video, teleconferencing and news distribution to multiple points
worldwide.
Space Systems/Loral, based in Palo Alto, Calif., a subsidiary of Loral Space &
Communications, is a leading designer and manufacturer of both geostationary
(GEO) and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, with more than 80 spacecraft
currently in backlog. The company is the prime contractor for the Globalstar
constellation of global telephony LEO satellites. Its GEO communications
satellites include direct-broadcast, multi-media, broadband and digital audio radio
spacecraft; it also builds environmental science, weather-watch, and air traffic
control spacecraft.
Loral Space & Communications (NYSE:LOR) is a high technology company that
primarily concentrates on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services,
including broadcast transponder leasing and value-added services, domestic and
international corporate data networks, global wireless telephony, broadband data
transmission and formatting, Internet connectivity, and international
direct-to-home satellite services. |
