Space Systems/Loral will build an additional high-power, ninth-generation satellites for Intelsat. SS/L also is building the first four satellites in this series in a program whose total value exceeds $600 million.
The satellites, based on SS/L's model 1300 three-axis spacecraft, are designed to have a mission life in excess of 13 years. Intelsat 905 will be delivered in late 2001.
The new satellite will provide additional capacity for voice/data, video and Internet services and will have the capability to serve either the Atlantic or Indian Ocean regions. The specific ocean area will be selected after the launch and deployment of the four Intelsat IX satellites already on order from SS/L.
The first four spacecraft in the series, Intelsat 901 through 904, are
currently under construction and are scheduled to be delivered over a
two-year period beginning in the summer of 2000.
Since 1980, SS/L, as prime contractor, has built or is building 29
satellites for Intelsat. Over the years, the company has been the prime
contractor on more Intelsat programs than all other satellite
manufacturers combined. Intelsat 502 recently was retired from service
after 17 years on orbit, well beyond its design life, a testimony to
SS/L's reliability record.
Each of the five satellites in the Intelsat IX series will operate 56
transponders — 44 in the C-band and 12 in the Ku-band. The satellites
will carry a significantly greater percentage of high-power amplifiers
and solar array power than the spacecraft in any previous Intelsat
series.
