Late January 2000 Launch Will Deploy PanAmSat’s Fifth U.S. Cable TV Satellite
GREENWICH, Conn. — Jan. 3, 2000–PanAmSat Corporation today
announced that less than two weeks after the successful launch of its Galaxy XI satellite from French Guiana, the company’s
Galaxy XR satellite has arrived at the Arianespace launch facility and begun final preparations for liftoff in late January 2000.
The launch of Galaxy XR, the first satellite deployment of the new century, will bring the company’s global fleet to 21
spacecraft.
The second of seven rapid deployments scheduled by mid-2001, Galaxy XR will become the fifth satellite in the Galaxy® cable
neighborhood, which delivers the leading cable television channels to virtually all of the 11,000 cable systems throughout the
United States. The satellite’s advanced communications payload will also deliver premium Internet and telecommunications
services to high-profile customers throughout North America.
“With the arrival of the Galaxy XR satellite in French Guiana, PanAmSat’s ambitious launch campaign is moving forward at an
unprecedented pace,” said Robert Bednarek, PanAmSat’s executive vice president and chief technology officer. “Galaxy XR is
the second of three new satellites within a four month period that will provide higher power, increased flexibility and more
service options in North America for our customers.”
Galaxy XR, an HS 601 HP satellite built by Hughes Space and Communications Co., contains 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band
transponders. The satellite will be located at 123 degrees west longitude following its launch aboard an Ariane 4 launch vehicle.
Galaxy XR will:
and IX satellites;
from 123 degrees west longitude to 127 degrees west longitude;
Galaxy IX) using one multi-beam antenna;
States, including A&E, Disney, ESPN News, Lifetime, MTV (West), The Movie Channel (West), Nickelodeon (West),
The Outdoor Channel, Showtime (West), Showtime Westplex and Sundance. In addition, TVN Entertainment will
employ Galaxy XR for its Digital Cable Television service, offering up to 32 channels of near-video-on-demand movies
and events for MSOs (multiple system operators);
Ku-band capacity at 123 degrees west longitude; and
California State University at Chico, GCI, Hughes Network Systems, the State of California and the University of
Southern California.
A diagram of PanAmSat’s Galaxy fleet deployment plan can be accessed at
http://www.panamsat.com/comp/sheets/GalaxyRedeployment.pdf
.
PanAmSat is the world’s leading commercial provider of global satellite-based communications services. The company operates
a global network of 20 satellites, including the recently launched Galaxy XI spacecraft. These resources, supported by
PanAmSat professionals on five continents, enable PanAmSat to provide video and telecommunications services to the world’s
premier broadcasters and programmers as well as Internet and telecommunications companies. PanAmSat plans to launch six
additional satellites, including Galaxy XR, by mid-2001. For more information on the company and its services, visit the
PanAmSat web site at http://www.panamsat.com.
Contact:
PanAmSat Corporation, Greenwich
Dan Marcus, 203/622-6664
Fax: 203/622-9163
www.panamsat.com