Lockheed Martin
has been awarded a contract to build an A2100 geosynchronous
satellite, marking the fifth new commercial satellite order received by its
Commercial Space Systems business during 2003.
“We are extremely pleased that Lockheed Martin has been selected to
provide another A2100 communications satellite for a long-standing customer,”
said Ted Gavrilis, president, Commercial Space Systems. “This award is another
example of the competitive success achieved through improved operational
efficiencies, combined with the A2100’s consistent record of performance and
dependability. Congratulations are in order to the entire team and we look
forward to building on our excellent progress in 2004.”
Details of the contract signed last week and the spacecraft customer will
be disclosed at a later date. Other contracts awarded this year include an
order from EchoStar Communications Corp in September to build its next
satellite for the DISH Network. The satellite, designated EchoStar X, will
provide distribution of direct-to-home broadcast services across the
continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii following its scheduled launch in
third quarter, 2005.
In April, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) was awarded a
contract by JSAT Corporation of Japan to build its latest geostationary
telecommunications satellite. The satellite, designated JCSAT-9, will provide
satellite communications services throughout Asia and Japan following its
scheduled launch in 2005.
In June, SES ASTRA awarded LMCSS a contract to build two satellites,
designated 1KR and 1L, which will provide distribution of direct-to-home
broadcast services across Europe following their scheduled launches in the
second half of 2005 and 2006 respectively.
In recognition of the A2100’s reliability, Lockheed Martin has received an
award for “Product of the Year,” by Frost & Sullivan. Calling it “the most
reliable and efficient of its class,” Frost & Sullivan recognized the
LMCSS-built A2100 satellite platform for its “outstanding on-orbit reliability
record since it was first offered in 1996.”
Last year, five satellites designed and built by LMCSS for customers
worldwide were successfully launched, including EchoStar VII for EchoStar
Communications Corp; NSS-6 and NSS-7 satellites for New Skies Satellites;
N-STAR c for NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest wireless telecommunications provider;
and most recently, Nimiq 2 for Telesat Canada.
The first A2100 was launched in 1996 and all spacecraft are operational.
This year, the company launched Rainbow 1, a high-power A2100 satellite for
Cablevision Systems Corp. of Bethpage, N.Y., aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas V
rocket.
The A2100 geostationary spacecraft is designed to meet a wide variety of
telecommunications needs ranging from high-power Ka, Ku and C-band fixed
satellite and direct broadcast services to high-power mobile satellite
services using the L- and S-band frequency spectrum. The heritage A2100’s
modular design features flight-proven equipment, thus simplifying
construction, shortening delivery schedule, and increasing on-orbit
reliability.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin employs about
130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems,
products and services. The Corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.
Media Contacts: Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail,
Stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com
For more information about Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, see
our web site at http://www.lmcommercialspace.com
