LUXEMBOURG & PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SES S.A. (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) and Space Systems/Loral announce that the QuetzSat-1 satellite has safely arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on board an Antonov cargo plane. The QuetzSat-1 spacecraft, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), will now be readied for launch onboard an ILS Proton Breeze M booster, scheduled for lift off in September 2011.
QuetzSat-1 is an all Ku-band high-powered communications satellite with coverage of Mexico, USA, and Central America, which is fully contracted to a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation and will be used in part by Dish Mexico, an EchoStar joint venture, for Direct-To-Home (DTH) services in Mexico.
“We have enjoyed a close working relationship with SES, and QuetzSat is the first to launch of three SES satellites currently under construction at SS/L,” said John Celli, President of Space Systems/Loral. "Our companies share a commitment to providing the infrastructure for outstanding satellite communications and we are very pleased to support SES’ growth in fast developing markets around the world.”
When launched, QuetzSat-1 will be positioned at 77 degrees West. It is based on SS/L’s highly reliable 1300 satellite platform which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances and provides high power for advanced DTH television. It is designed to deliver service for 15 years or longer.
"Space Systems/Loral is a valued supplier to SES,” said Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer of SES. “QuetzSat is an important addition to our fleet and we are happy that it is now in Baikonur beginning its preparations for launch.”
About SES
SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES, and participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 46 satellites. For further information: www.ses.com
About Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NASDAQ: LORL), has a long history of delivering reliable satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As the world’s leading provider of commercial satellites, the company works closely with satellite operators to provide spacecraft for a broad range of services including television and radio distribution, digital audio radio, broadband Internet, and mobile communications. Billions of people around the world depend on SS/L satellites every day. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com
About Loral Space & Communications
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. Through its Space Systems/Loral subsidiary, the company is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of satellites and satellite systems for commercial and government applications including direct-to-home television, broadband communications, wireless telephony, weather monitoring, and air traffic management. Loral also owns 64 percent of Telesat, one of the world’s largest providers of satellite services. Telesat operates a fleet of telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming, distribute direct-to-home video and broadband data services, and other value-added communications services. For more information, visit Loral’s Web site at www.loral.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
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oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive
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anticipated results as a result of certain risks and uncertainties which
are described as “Risk Factors” and in the “Commitments and
Contingencies” note to the financial statements in Loral’s 2010 annual
report on Form 10-K filed March 15, 2011. The reader is specifically
referred to this document, as well as the company's other filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Risks and uncertainties include
but are not limited to (1) risks associated with financial factors,
including swings in the global financial markets, financial covenants in
SS/L's credit agreement, increases in interest rates and access to
capital; (2) risks associated with satellite manufacturing, including
competition, cyclicality of SS/L's end-user markets, contractual risks,
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exclusive. Furthermore, Loral and SS/L operate in an industry sector
where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by
economic and other factors beyond the control of Loral and SS/L.