Sea Launch has signed a firm launch contract with Intelsat to orbit the Intelsat Americas-9 (IA-9) spacecraft in the 4th Quarter of 2007. IA-9 is currently under construction at Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) in Palo Alto, Calif. This mission will be Sea Launch's second with Intelsat; the IA-8 mission was successfully completed in June 2005.
"We are proud to welcome back Intelsat for another Sea Launch mission," said Rob Peckham, interim president and general manager of Sea Launch. "We view this new contract as a testament to Intelsat's confidence in our launch system and our team. We won't let them down."
The IA-9 spacecraft is a high-power, C-band and Ku-band satellite that will provide communications service to North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Intelsat currently plans to operate the satellite from an orbital location at 97 degrees West longitude. IA-9 will become Intelsat's newest satellite covering North America.
About IntelsatIntelsat is a global communications provider offering flexible and secure services to customers in over 200 countries and territories. Intelsat has maintained a leadership position for over 40 years by distributing video, voice and data for television and content providers, government and military entities, major corporations, telecommunications carriers and Internet service providers. Intelsat's reach, power and expanding solutions portfolio deliver information reliably and quickly to every corner of the globe. For more information, visit
www.intelsat.com.
About Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space &Communications (NASDAQ: LORL), is a premier designer, manufacturer and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services that include mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defense communications, environmental monitoring and air traffic control. SS/L is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For more information, visit
www.ssloral.com.
About Sea Launch Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is the world's most reliable heavy-lift commercial launch service. This international partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch is building a legacy, with one successful launch, one satisfied customer, at a time. For additional information, please visit the Sea Launch website at:
www.sea-launch.com.
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