Jacques van Oene
September 4th 05, 02:58 PM
Contact: Barron Beneski, (703) 406-5000,
Orbital Receives Contract For Horizons-2 Commercial Communications Satellite
Joint Venture Between PanAmSat and JSAT to Utilize Company's STARTM Small
Geosynchronous Satellite Platform
(Dulles, VA 30 August 2005) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB)
announced today that Horizons-2 Satellite, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture
between PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA) and JSAT Corporation (Tokyo: JSAT),
has ordered one geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite, which will be
based on Orbital's industry-leading STARTM small satellite platform. The
spacecraft will carry the name Horizons-2 and will be launched into a
PanAmSat-licensed orbital slot at 74 degrees West Longitude over the United
States. The new order calls for a 22-month on-ground delivery schedule.
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"Once again, our smaller-sized STARTM GEO satellite platform has proved to
be the ideal choice for satellite operators that seek an optimal balance
between satellite capacity and customer demand," said Dr. Ali Atia, head of
Orbital's commercial GEO satellite business unit. "We are delighted to add
JSAT to the list of blue-chip customers who have adopted the 'STAR small
satellite solution,' an industry trend of which PanAmSat has been the
leading proponent."
The new satellite is the fifth that has been ordered through the company's
association with PanAmSat, which originally became a customer in 2001. Prior
to the Horizons-2 joint venture order with JSAT, PanAmSat had previously
purchased from Orbital three C-band satellites for U.S. domestic
communications services, and a hybrid (C and Ku bands) satellite for
international services.
"We are pleased to announce the purchase of the Horizons-2 satellite which
extends two significant partnerships that PanAmSat has developed over the
past five years," said Joe Wright, CEO PanAmSat. "First, PanAmSat and JSAT
will double capacity in our Horizons joint venture, which has already proven
to be a highly successful for both companies. This satellite will provide
Ku-band growth capacity in North America for PanAmSat in 2007 through the
next decade. And secondly, we are extending our relationship with Orbital
Sciences as our primary supplier of small satellites which have become a
critical part of our business strategy going forward."
The first C-band satellite, Galaxy 12, was launched in 2003 and the second,
Galaxy 14, was launched earlier this month. The last of the original
three-satellite order, Galaxy 15, was recently shipped to the launch site in
preparation for a launch in September. A fourth satellite was ordered
earlier this year, the hybrid PAS-11, which is currently in the design and
manufacturing phase.
The Horizons-2 satellite will carry 20 active high-power Ku-band
transponders. The satellite will generate approximately 3.5 kilowatts of
payload power and will weigh about 2,300 kg at launch.
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.
More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com
--
--------------------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Orbital Receives Contract For Horizons-2 Commercial Communications Satellite
Joint Venture Between PanAmSat and JSAT to Utilize Company's STARTM Small
Geosynchronous Satellite Platform
(Dulles, VA 30 August 2005) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB)
announced today that Horizons-2 Satellite, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture
between PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA) and JSAT Corporation (Tokyo: JSAT),
has ordered one geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite, which will be
based on Orbital's industry-leading STARTM small satellite platform. The
spacecraft will carry the name Horizons-2 and will be launched into a
PanAmSat-licensed orbital slot at 74 degrees West Longitude over the United
States. The new order calls for a 22-month on-ground delivery schedule.
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"Once again, our smaller-sized STARTM GEO satellite platform has proved to
be the ideal choice for satellite operators that seek an optimal balance
between satellite capacity and customer demand," said Dr. Ali Atia, head of
Orbital's commercial GEO satellite business unit. "We are delighted to add
JSAT to the list of blue-chip customers who have adopted the 'STAR small
satellite solution,' an industry trend of which PanAmSat has been the
leading proponent."
The new satellite is the fifth that has been ordered through the company's
association with PanAmSat, which originally became a customer in 2001. Prior
to the Horizons-2 joint venture order with JSAT, PanAmSat had previously
purchased from Orbital three C-band satellites for U.S. domestic
communications services, and a hybrid (C and Ku bands) satellite for
international services.
"We are pleased to announce the purchase of the Horizons-2 satellite which
extends two significant partnerships that PanAmSat has developed over the
past five years," said Joe Wright, CEO PanAmSat. "First, PanAmSat and JSAT
will double capacity in our Horizons joint venture, which has already proven
to be a highly successful for both companies. This satellite will provide
Ku-band growth capacity in North America for PanAmSat in 2007 through the
next decade. And secondly, we are extending our relationship with Orbital
Sciences as our primary supplier of small satellites which have become a
critical part of our business strategy going forward."
The first C-band satellite, Galaxy 12, was launched in 2003 and the second,
Galaxy 14, was launched earlier this month. The last of the original
three-satellite order, Galaxy 15, was recently shipped to the launch site in
preparation for a launch in September. A fourth satellite was ordered
earlier this year, the hybrid PAS-11, which is currently in the design and
manufacturing phase.
The Horizons-2 satellite will carry 20 active high-power Ku-band
transponders. The satellite will generate approximately 3.5 kilowatts of
payload power and will weigh about 2,300 kg at launch.
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.
More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com
--
--------------------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info