Loral
to Build DirecTV 7S
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Space
Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space &
Communications, was awarded a contract to build a new high-power
spot beam satellite that will enable DirecTV  to
serve additional markets with local channels and add new services.
The new satellite, named DirecTV -7S, will be delivered in the
second half of 2003, and will be the second spot beam satellite in
the DirecTV fleet following the launch of DirecTV -4S later this
year. DirecTV expects to have DirecTV -7S in service by the end of
2003.
DirecTV -7S will
generate more than 13.000 kW of total satellite power at the
beginning of its life and is designed to operate from orbital
locations at 101°W, the primary orbital slot for DirecTV, or 119°W.
In one operating mode, the new satellite will be capable of
providing up to 54 transponders for high-quality local and
national digital video service broadcast into 27 beams. In its
other configuration, the satellite will be capable of providing up
to 44 transponders broadcast into 30 beams.
The spacecraft is
a version of SS/L's space-proven 1300 satellite platform. The
geostationary 1300 has a design service life of 15 years and
maintains station-keeping and orbital stability by using
bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems.
SS/L
has also built two other satellites that have been acquired by the
direct-to-home satellite television provider - DirecTV 6 and
DirecTV 5. DirecTV 5 is scheduled for launch later this year.
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