New spacecraft is second in Intelsat IX series, 26th satellite built by Space Systems/Loral for Intelsat.

Intelsat 902, the latest in a line of advanced telecommunications
satellites built for Intelsat by Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of
Loral Space & Communications, was successfully launched at
2:46 a.m. EDT (6:46 a.m. GMT) this morning.

The satellite was sent into space from the European Spaceport at
Kourou, French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 44L launch vehicle.

“SS/L is proud to deliver the first satellite to the newly
privatized Intelsat,” said Dr. John Klineberg, president of Space
Systems/Loral. “Our long-standing relationship with the company is
very important to SS/L, and we are constantly working to support its
goal of excellent customer service.”

Intelsat 902 is the 26th satellite delivered to the international
satellite operator since 1980 by SS/L. With the delivery of the
Intelsat IX series, SS/L will have built 31 spacecraft for Intelsat,
nearly half of its fleet, and significantly more than any other
manufacturer.

Intelsat 902 will provide service to Europe, the Middle East,
Africa, and Asia from its orbital position at 62 degrees East
longitude, and is the second to be launched of the seven Intelsat
IX-series satellites that SS/L is building for the world’s pre-eminent
satellite communications provider. The remaining five satellites in
the series will be launched over the next two years.

“The successful launch of Intelsat 902 significantly expands our
ability to provide a range of enhanced services to our current and
future customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia,” said
Ramu Potarazu, president and COO of Intelsat Global Service
Corporation. “We are pleased with the performance of Space
Systems/Loral in successfully delivering yet another advanced
satellite system.”

Each of the new Intelsat IX series satellites carries 72 C-band
and 22 Ku-band operating transponders (in 36MHz equivalents), and its
solar arrays will generate more than 8.6 kilowatts of power (beginning
of life). This Intelsat IX series of spacecraft will carry a much
greater percentage of high-power amplifiers and generate more solar
array power than its predecessors with only a small increase in dry
mass.

The increased power and efficiency of the Intelsat IX spacecraft
will provide better coverage and stronger signals to help satisfy the
burgeoning global appetite for digital services, smaller earth
stations, and specialized communications services. They will replace
Intelsat VI satellites, now on orbit, to provide enhanced voice,
video, and data transmission services across the globe.

The spacecraft is a version of SS/L’s space-proven 1300
geostationary satellite platform, which has an excellent record of
reliable operation. The 1300 is designed to achieve a long useful
orbital life, in this case 13 years, excellent station-keeping, and
orbital stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias
systems. A system of high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight
batteries provides uninterrupted electrical power. In all, SS/L
satellites have amassed a total of more than 800 years of on-orbit
service.

The Companies

Intelsat is a privately held international communications provider
offering Internet, broadcast, telephony and corporate network
solutions around the globe through its fleet of 20 satellites. For
nearly four decades, leading telecommunications companies,
multinational corporations and broadcasters in more than 200 countries
and territories have relied on Intelsat satellites and staff for
quality connections, global reach and reliability. For more
information, visit www.intelsat.com.

Space Systems/Loral is one of the world’s premier designers,
manufacturers, and integrators of powerful satellites and satellite
systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services, including
mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based
in Palo Alto, California, the company has an international base of
commercial and governmental customers whose applications include
broadcast video distribution, broadband digital communications,
direct-to-home broadcast, environmental monitoring and air traffic
control. SS/L is ISO 9001 certified. For more information, visit
www.ssloral.com.

Loral Space & Communications is a high technology company that
concentrates primarily on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based
services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added
services, domestic and international corporate data networks,
broadband data transmission, content and Internet services. For more
information, visit Loral’s web site at www.loral.com.