 |
XTAR-EUR SATELLITE ARRIVES IN FRENCH GUIANA
Space Systems/Loral-Built Satellite to
Provide Steerable, High-Bandwidth X-Band Capacity For Military
and Government Applications
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 15, 2004 –
XTAR, the world’s first commercial provider of X-band
services, today announced that its XTAR-EUR satellite has
arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana,
and is undergoing preparations in advance of its launch aboard
an Ariane 5 rocket. XTAR is a joint venture between Loral
Space & Communications and HISDESAT.
The XTAR-EUR satellite will be located at 29 degrees East
longitude, providing a wide footprint extending from the Eastern
Atlantic to Southeast Asia. The satellite features on-board
switching and multiple steerable theater beams that allow
X-band capacity to focus on its users as they travel anywhere
within the footprint of the satellite. XTAR-EUR is designed
to work with existing X-band terminals, including dishes under
2.4 meters.
XTAR expects to begin offering its X-band services to government
users in the United States, Spain, and other friendly and
allied nations in early 2005.
Weighing 3,600 kilograms at launch, XTAR-EUR is based on
Space Systems/Loral’s
(SS/L) space-proven 1300 platform and carries twelve wideband,
high-power X-band transponders. XTAR-EUR has a 15-year designed
service life and maintains station-keeping and orbital stability
by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems.
In all, SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,100 years
of on-orbit service.
XTAR, LLC is a new satellite communications company committed
to serving the needs of U.S., Spanish and allied governments.
The company is a joint venture between Loral, which owns 56
percent, and HISDESAT, which owns 44 percent. XTAR is headquartered
in Rockville, Md., and has offices in Madrid, Spain, and Palo
Alto, Calif.
HISDESAT Servicios Estratégicos S.A. is a Spanish
company headquartered in Madrid and incorporated on July 17,
2001. HISDESAT’s aims are the acquisition, operation
and commercialization of government-oriented space systems,
beginning with satellite communications in the X- and Ka-band
frequencies. HISDESAT is owned jointly by Hispasat, S.A.,
the Spanish commercial satellite services company, INSA (100%
owned by the Spanish government) and the leaders of Spain’s
space industries: EADS-CASA Espacio, INDRA and SENER. HISDESAT
will provide enhanced capabilities, including Ka-band, for
Spain’s defense applications.
Space Systems/Loral 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 government 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 Space Systems/Loral’s web site at
www.ssloral.com.
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications
company. In addition to Space Systems/Loral, through its Skynet
subsidiary Loral owns and operates a fleet of telecommunications
satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming,
and for broadband data transmission, Internet services and
other value-added communications services. For more information,
visit the Loral Space & Communications web site at www.loral.com.
# # #
An artist’s rendering of the XTAR-EUR satellite
This document contains forward-looking statements.
In addition, XTAR, its affiliates and their representatives
have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or
in writing, which may be included in but are not limited to,
various filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
press releases or oral statements made with the approval of
an authorized executive officer. Actual results could differ
materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking
statements as a result of a wide variety of factors and conditions.
Contact:
John McCarthy
Loral Space & Communications
212-697-1105
Register
here to receive XTAR, LLC news announcements by email.
«back
|
|
