SES AMERICOM Orders Additional Spacecraft From Orbital Sciences Corporation
SES AMERICOM, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchange: SESG) and Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), announced today the order of a third spacecraft under the multi-satellite contract both companies announced in May 2007. Under this contract, the first and second satellites ordered were AMC-5R and a ground spare. That ground spare will now become AMC-1R, and a new ground spare will be produced for a future use.
Planned for launch in the second half of 2009, AMC-1R will have a permanent home in geosynchronous Earth orbit at 103 degrees West longitude.
“The strength of our relationship with Orbital and the efficiencies of the multi-spacecraft agreement permit SES to provide a distinctly high level of mission certainty. Our connections with our customers are underscored by continually meeting and exceeding their expectations for reliability and quality of service. This combination of mutually beneficial supplier-customer-operator relationships, and the operational excellence that it forges, powers AMERICOM’s superior performance,” said Ed Horowitz, President and CEO, SES AMERICOM.
“Our close collaboration with SES in defining standardized spacecraft requirements for multiple satellites is enabling us to produce, deliver and launch one of our STAR spacecraft in under 24 months,” stated Mr. Mike Larkin, Orbital’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Space Systems Group. “This process highlights one of Orbital’s major competitive advantages, which is our ability to deliver a GEO satellite in two years or less,” he added.
Taking full advantage of the contract’s ordering flexibility, AMC-1R was the ground spare originally ordered with AMC-5R. With 24 transponders in each frequency band (C and Ku), AMC-1R will initially operate at 101 degrees West, and then move to its permanent home at 103 degrees West.
Orbital will serve as the prime contractor for the new spacecraft, which is based on the most powerful version of the STAR 2 satellite platform. AMC-1R and the identical ground spare will be hybrid satellites; a portion of each frequency payload will be cross-strapped, allowing signals to be transmitted to the satellite in one frequency and received in the other. The spacecraft will generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power and will have two deployable reflectors. Delivery of AMC-1R is scheduled for mid-2009, for a second half 2009 launch supplied by Sea Launch on the Zenit-3SLB vehicle called Land Launch.
About SES AMERICOM
As the leading supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communications and content distribution solutions. The company, recognized as a major innovator of advanced satellite communications services, operates a fleet of 15 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services (AGS), a wholly-owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. Government.
SES AMERICOM is an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). SES wholly owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provide global coverage and connectivity. The company also holds 90% of SES SIRIUS in Europe as well as strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low Earth-orbit, geosynchronous Earth-orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds software-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators. More information about Orbital can be found at www.orbital.com
Contacts:
Monica Morgan, (1) 609-987-4143 monica.morgan@ses-americom.com
Barron Beneski , (1) 703-406-5528 beneski.barron@orbital.com
