Jacques van Oene
April 18th 05, 10:12 PM
Contact: Barron Beneski, (703) 406-5000,
Orbital Awarded New GEO Communications Satellite Contract by PanAmSat
Contract Covers One Firm and Two Option Spacecraft for 2007-2008 Deliveries
(Dulles, VA 18 April 2005) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB)
announced today that it has signed a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications
satellite contract with PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA). PanAmSat's new
spacecraft will provide C- and Ku-band fixed telecommunications and
direct-to-home television broadcasting services from a mid-Atlantic orbital
location. The new satellite is the fourth one PanAmSat has purchased from
Orbital since 2001 and is based on the company's STARTM platform. PanAmSat
previously purchased three C-band satellites for U.S. domestic
communications services from Orbital, the first of which, Galaxy 12, was
launched in 2003. Two sister satellites, Galaxy 14 and 15, are scheduled for
launch later this year.
The new satellite, to be called PAS-11, will carry up to 18 active Ku-band
transponders and 16 active C-band transponders. The satellite will generate
approximately 4.5 kilowatts of electrical power and will weigh approximately
2,500 kg at launch. Delivery of the satellite is scheduled in the first
quarter of 2007. The contract includes options for two additional
spacecraft, each of which would generate approximately 4.7 kilowatts of
power and would be delivered about 24 months after exercise of the contract
options. Financial details of the contract were not released.
Commenting on the contract award, Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's GEO
communications satellite unit, said, "We very much appreciate the confidence
PanAmSat has shown in Orbital by purchasing another satellite from us. We
have demonstrated our capabilities and flexibility during the manufacturing
of the three Galaxy spacecraft for PanAmSat over the last several years. We
will continue to work in partnership with PanAmSat to ensure on-time
delivery of the new spacecraft in order to assure an orderly transition of
services for their customers."
Mr. Jim Frownfelter, PanAmSat's Chief Operating Officer, said, "We are very
pleased to continue and expand our successful partnership with Orbital.
Based on the outstanding working relationship that was established between
our satellite teams during the design, development, manufacturing and test
process for the first three spacecraft, we are moving forward with great
confidence in our mixed fleet strategy that incorporates small satellites to
allow us to better match capacity with customer demand."
Dr. Atia added, "This contract is further evidence of Orbital's increasing
market position in the small class GEO satellite niches. With an advanced
satellite design based on three-axis stabilization and significant power and
mass margins over our nearest competitor in this class of spacecraft, we
have clearly become the preferred supplier of satellites of this size."
The order from PanAmSat continues Orbital's growth in the market for small
GEO communications satellites. Since the late 1990's, Orbital has received
orders for 13 small GEO satellites. Including this most recent order,
Orbital currently has seven small GEO satellites in various stages of
design, manufacturing, testing and pre-launch preparations, and has options
for three additional satellites that could be exercised in the future.
Orbital's highly successful GEO communications satellites are based on the
company's STAR-1 and STAR-2 standard spacecraft platforms, which are able to
accommodate most types of commercial communications payloads. For many
applications, the lighter-weight, more-affordable Star design is an
attractive alternative to the larger, more costly GEO satellites offered by
other suppliers. Orbital's Star satellites are smaller and significantly
less expensive to manufacture and launch. They are an ideal fit for
established companies that require incremental capacity for their networks
or for customers in the early stages of building their businesses.
About PanAmSat
Through its owned and operated fleet of 23 satellites, PanAmSat is a leading
global provider of video, broadcasting and network distribution and delivery
services. In total, the company's in-orbit fleet is capable of reaching over
98 percent of the world's population through cable television systems,
broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers
and telecommunications companies. In addition, PanAmSat supports the largest
concentration of satellite-based business networks in the U.S., as well as
specialized communications services in remote areas throughout the world.
For more information, visit the company's web site at www.panamsat.com.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil
government and military customers. The company's primary products are
satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary and
planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing and scientific
missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into
orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as interceptor and target
vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government
agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management
systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Orbital Awarded New GEO Communications Satellite Contract by PanAmSat
Contract Covers One Firm and Two Option Spacecraft for 2007-2008 Deliveries
(Dulles, VA 18 April 2005) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB)
announced today that it has signed a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications
satellite contract with PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA). PanAmSat's new
spacecraft will provide C- and Ku-band fixed telecommunications and
direct-to-home television broadcasting services from a mid-Atlantic orbital
location. The new satellite is the fourth one PanAmSat has purchased from
Orbital since 2001 and is based on the company's STARTM platform. PanAmSat
previously purchased three C-band satellites for U.S. domestic
communications services from Orbital, the first of which, Galaxy 12, was
launched in 2003. Two sister satellites, Galaxy 14 and 15, are scheduled for
launch later this year.
The new satellite, to be called PAS-11, will carry up to 18 active Ku-band
transponders and 16 active C-band transponders. The satellite will generate
approximately 4.5 kilowatts of electrical power and will weigh approximately
2,500 kg at launch. Delivery of the satellite is scheduled in the first
quarter of 2007. The contract includes options for two additional
spacecraft, each of which would generate approximately 4.7 kilowatts of
power and would be delivered about 24 months after exercise of the contract
options. Financial details of the contract were not released.
Commenting on the contract award, Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's GEO
communications satellite unit, said, "We very much appreciate the confidence
PanAmSat has shown in Orbital by purchasing another satellite from us. We
have demonstrated our capabilities and flexibility during the manufacturing
of the three Galaxy spacecraft for PanAmSat over the last several years. We
will continue to work in partnership with PanAmSat to ensure on-time
delivery of the new spacecraft in order to assure an orderly transition of
services for their customers."
Mr. Jim Frownfelter, PanAmSat's Chief Operating Officer, said, "We are very
pleased to continue and expand our successful partnership with Orbital.
Based on the outstanding working relationship that was established between
our satellite teams during the design, development, manufacturing and test
process for the first three spacecraft, we are moving forward with great
confidence in our mixed fleet strategy that incorporates small satellites to
allow us to better match capacity with customer demand."
Dr. Atia added, "This contract is further evidence of Orbital's increasing
market position in the small class GEO satellite niches. With an advanced
satellite design based on three-axis stabilization and significant power and
mass margins over our nearest competitor in this class of spacecraft, we
have clearly become the preferred supplier of satellites of this size."
The order from PanAmSat continues Orbital's growth in the market for small
GEO communications satellites. Since the late 1990's, Orbital has received
orders for 13 small GEO satellites. Including this most recent order,
Orbital currently has seven small GEO satellites in various stages of
design, manufacturing, testing and pre-launch preparations, and has options
for three additional satellites that could be exercised in the future.
Orbital's highly successful GEO communications satellites are based on the
company's STAR-1 and STAR-2 standard spacecraft platforms, which are able to
accommodate most types of commercial communications payloads. For many
applications, the lighter-weight, more-affordable Star design is an
attractive alternative to the larger, more costly GEO satellites offered by
other suppliers. Orbital's Star satellites are smaller and significantly
less expensive to manufacture and launch. They are an ideal fit for
established companies that require incremental capacity for their networks
or for customers in the early stages of building their businesses.
About PanAmSat
Through its owned and operated fleet of 23 satellites, PanAmSat is a leading
global provider of video, broadcasting and network distribution and delivery
services. In total, the company's in-orbit fleet is capable of reaching over
98 percent of the world's population through cable television systems,
broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers
and telecommunications companies. In addition, PanAmSat supports the largest
concentration of satellite-based business networks in the U.S., as well as
specialized communications services in remote areas throughout the world.
For more information, visit the company's web site at www.panamsat.com.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil
government and military customers. The company's primary products are
satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary and
planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing and scientific
missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into
orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as interceptor and target
vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government
agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management
systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info