PanAmSat Orders Two GEO Satellites From Orbital Sciences

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PanAmSat Orders Two GEO Satellites From Orbital Sciences

More Information:

PanAmSat exercised options to order two geostationary telecommunication satellites from Orbital Sciences Corporation. PanAmSat bought a satellite, Galaxy 12, from Orbital in March 2001 which included an option to purchase two more satellites later. The two C-band satellites will be based on Orbital's STAR-2 platform. The first of the two new PanAmSat satellites is slated for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2003, while the second satellite is expected to have its delivery date determined in the near future. Financial details of the option exercise were not disclosed. Industry analysts estimate the contract may be worth about US$100 million.

These new satellites will replace the Galaxy 5 and Galaxy 1R satellites following their scheduled retirements in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The two 1700 kg (3750 lbm) satellites will each carry 20-24 C-Band transponders. Galaxy 12, Galaxy 5R and 1RR will be positioned at 99, 125 and 133 degrees West, respectively. In June PanAmSat contracted with ArianeSpace for the launch of three satellites, Galaxy 12, Galaxy 5R and Galaxy 1RR using Ariane 5 launchers. PanAmSat has also called Galaxy 5R, PAS Light 2, and Galaxy 1RR, PAS Light 3.

Orbital's GEO satellites are based on the company's STAR family of smaller GEO satellite platforms, which are able to accommodate most types of commercial communications payloads. The STAR satellites are small and cheaper to manufacture and launch than larger offerings by competitors. They are being selected by customers in the early stages of building their business or established companies that wish to add incremental capacity to their network.

Orbital has built and delivered, or is now in the process of manufacturing, eight GEO communications satellites, including IndoStar 1, BSAT 2A, BSAT 2B, BSAT 2C, N-STAR C (in collaboration with Lockheed Martin), PanAmSat's Galaxy 12, and the two new spacecraft PanAmSat just ordered.

EchoStar Corporation, which recently made a bid for DirecTV Inc., will also be acquiring Spaceways and PanAmSat in the transaction. PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by Hughes Electronics Corp. Hughes Electronics Corp. is a subsidiary of General Motors.

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November 28, 2001