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Broadband
Satellite Venture Astrolink to Suspend Construction
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Lockheed Martin
has notified Astrolink that it is suspending further investment in
the US$3.7 billion project. The Astrolink International LLC Board
of Directors is expected to suspend work on all satellites under
construction, with engineers and technicians to be laid off or
reassigned. The decision to end the project is to be taken because
the venture failed to gain additional financing. Lockheed Martin
invested US$400 million in May 1999 to start the project. TRW and
Telecom Italia's Telespazio each invested US$250 million, and in
December 1999, Liberty Media invested US$425 million.
 Astrolink had
contracted with Lockheed Martin to build the first 4 satellites in
the constellation. Launches were contracted on Proton and Atlas
launch vehicles.
Astrolink was
licensed by the U.S. FCC to build and launch up to 9 Ka-band
broadband satellites. Astrolink had secured licenses from the FCC
for five orbital slots: Americas (97°W), Asia (130°E), Atlantic
(21.5°W), Europe (2°E), and Oceanic (175.25°West). Astrolink
has been working to secure operating licenses around the world and
has licenses pending in more than a dozen countries. Astrolink was
scheduled to commence service in 2003.
In
an e-mail sent to employees October 26, obtained by Reuters,
Timothy Hannemann, president and chief executive of TRW Space
&  Electronics said, “This morning, Lockheed Martin announced
its decision not to invest further in the Astrolink Program.
Without this additional investment, Astrolink International is no
longer able to fund construction of the system. Consequently, we
are developing a plan to bring the TRW Space and Electronics
Astrolink Payload Program to conclusion in the very near
future.” TRW declined to comment on the information. Astrolink,
which has been denying rumors of a scale back in its plans, was
also not commenting.
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