Space Systems/Loral (SSL), a leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that the AsiaSat 6 satellite, designed and built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), was launched Saturday evening and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan.
The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle provided by SpaceX. The satellite began firing its main thruster last night in order to start maneuvering into geostationary orbit.
“This is the second SSL-built satellite launched within two months for AsiaSat,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “I would like to thank everyone at launch base and the teams that saw AsiaSat 6 through from design to launch for their hard work and commitment to put it into orbit.”
AsiaSat 6 is designed to provide broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband services across the Asia-Pacific region where it will help meet the fast growing demand for quality satellite services.
“SSL has been an excellent partner in our recent fleet expansion,” said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat. “Congratulations to everyone at SSL, SpaceX and AsiaSat who helped make this launch a success.”
AsiaSat 6 has 28 C-band transponders and will be positioned at 120 degrees East longitude. It has two beams, one which is global and one which is regional, offering coverage over Asia, Australasia, Central Asia, and the Pacific islands, with enhanced power and look angles over Pacific Rim countries. It is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances.
SSL has now provided four satellites to AsiaSat and has an additional satellite, AsiaSat 9, currently under construction in its Palo Alto manufacturing facility. With this launch, there are 76 SSL-built GEO satellites currently on orbit.
About AsiaSat
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), a leading satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world’s population with its six satellites, AsiaSat 3S, AsiaSat 4, AsiaSat 5, AsiaSat 7 and the newly launched AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8. The AsiaSat satellite fleet provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 450 television and radio channels are now delivered by the company’s satellites offering access to over 710 million TV households across the Asia-Pacific region. AsiaSat also provides telecommunications operators and end users services such as private VSAT networks and broadband multimedia. AsiaSat 9 on order from SSL is planned to be launched in 2017. AsiaSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1135). For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com.
About SSL
SSL, a subsidiary of MDA, has a long history of delivering reliable satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As a 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, mobile communications, and Earth observation. Billions of people around the world depend on SSL satellites every day. For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.
About MDA
MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide.
MDA’s business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development.
MDA’s established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 11 locations in the United States, Canada, and internationally.
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.’s (MDA) common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “MDA.”
Related Websites: www.mdacorporation.com
