Sea Launch signs with XM Satellite Radio for Additional Launch Services
Boeing Launch Services, Inc. (BLS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA], today announced a contract with XM Satellite Radio for the launch of the XM-4 satellite on a Sea Launch rocket in 2006-07 time frame.
The new contract is a direct arrangement between XM Satellite Radio and Sea Launch Company, LLC. Sea Launch successfully placed the first two XM satellites, "Rock" and "Roll" in orbit in 2001. The company also was selected for the launch of the XM-3 satellite in late 2004/early 2005 as part of a delivery-in-orbit contract with Boeing Satellite Systems, the manufacturer of all four satellites.
"We are excited about this opportunity to continue our relationship with XM Satellite Radio," said Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch. "We helped put XM on the airwaves and now, we will support the continued growth and success of their award-winning service to radio listeners across the United States. These new contracts demonstrate our customer's confidence in our every-growing record of reliability and accuracy."
The new contract, signed on August 5, directs the Sea Launch team to deliver the powerful Boeing 702 spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit for a final orbital position at 115 degrees West Longitude in support of XM's on-going service requirements. The XM-3 spacecraft will be positioned at 85 degrees west longitude.
Designed for a 15-year lifespan, the Boeing 702 model spacecraft will each generate 18 kilowatts of total power at the start of life in orbit. Alcatel Space, of Toulouse, France, is providing the high-power, S-band, Digital Audio Service (DARS) payloads for all of the XM spacecraft. For more information about the spacecraft, go to: www.boeing.com/satellite and www.alcatel.com/space
XM Satellite Radio is America's #1 satellite radio service. With nearly 700,000 subscribers, XM is on pace to have more than one million subscribers later this year. XM is available on a wide variety of GM, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, Nissan and Audi models. GM recently announced that it manufactured more than 500,000 XM-equipped vehicles and that it will exceed the one million mark by March 31, 2004. XM radios, including the critically acclaimed Delphi XM SKYFi radio, are available at Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and other major retailers nationwide. For more information, go to: www.xmradio.com
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is a world leader in providing heavy-lift commercial launch services. This multinational partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the reliable Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch has a current backlog of 15 firm launch contracts. For additional information and images of this successfully completed mission, visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com
Boeing Launch Services, Inc., with headquarters in Huntington Beach, Calif., is the marketing and sales organization for Sea Launch and the Delta family of launch vehicles to commercial and government customers. Established in 2001, BLS has a world-class team that represents a family of vehicles to meet every payload lift requirement, from 1,000 kg-13,000 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit. For more information, go to www.boeing.com/launch.
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