The AMC-14 communications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT ) for SES AMERICOM, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), is ready for launch on March 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Proton/Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services. AMC-14, which is scheduled to launch at 5:18 a.m. in Baikonur (March 14 at 7:18 p.m. EDT), will be located at orbital location 61.5 degrees West Longitude.
AMC-14 will provide direct-to-home broadcast services across the continental U.S., Mexico and Central America for EchoStar Communications Corp., which has leased the entire capacity of AMC-14. Based on Lockheed Martin’s A2100AX platform, AMC-14 features 32 high-power Ku-band transponders in the BSS frequency band, each utilizing 24 MHz bandwidth. The spacecraft antenna is designed for operation over two separate orbital arcs: 61.5 degrees West Longitude to 77 degrees West Longitude or 110 degrees West Longitude to 148 degrees West Longitude, providing SES AMERICOM extensive flexibility in meeting their customer’s business plans.
AMC-14 also carries a demonstration receive active phased array (APA) payload that allows coverage to be reshaped on orbit. The spacecraft incorporates the highest levels of redundancy on core components such as amplifiers, receivers, command and control components and on-board computers.
AMC-14 is expected to provide more than 15 years of service life and is the 17th Lockheed Martin-built A2100 series spacecraft designed, built and launched for SES companies. In 2007, Lockheed Martin successfully launched ASTRA 1L for SES ASTRA and SIRIUS 4 for SES SIRIUS. AMC-14 also marks the 36th A2100 spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin for customers worldwide.
The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads. The A2100’s modular design features a reduction in parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost.
The A2100 spacecraft’s design accommodates a large range of communication payloads. This design modularity also enables the A2100 spacecraft to be configured for missions other than communication. The A2100 design is currently being adapted for geostationary earth orbit (GEO)-based earth observing missions and is currently the baselined platform for Lockheed Martin’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R (GOES-R) proposal. The A2100 also serves as the platform for critical government communications programs including Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Mobile User Objective System and is the foundation for Lockheed Martin’s Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) offering for the U.S. Government.
About SES AMERICOM
As the leading supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM (http://www.ses-americom.com) serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communications and content distribution solutions. The company, recognized as a major innovator of advanced satellite communications services, operates a fleet of 15 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services (AGS), a wholly-owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. Government.
SES AMERICOM is an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). SES wholly owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provide global coverage and connectivity. The company also holds strategic participations in SES SIRIUS in Europe, Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: http://www.ses.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems is a unit of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security, civil and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; fleet ballistic missiles; and missile defense systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.
Media Contacts: Dee Valleras, 215-497-4185; e-mail, dee.valleras@lmco.com
For more information about Lockheed Martin, see our web site at http://www.lockheedmartin.com.
