Space Systems/Loral announced Thursday it has been chosen by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. to build SIRIUS FM-5, a powerful new geostationary satellite for use in its satellite radio service.
SIRIUS FM-5, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008, will carry an X-band uplink and S-band downlink payload. The satellite will be one of the most powerful ever constructed, with end-of-life power capability at more than 20 kilowatts.
SIRIUS FM-5 is based on SS/L's 1300 platform and will have a specified service life of 15 years. It will carry a range of technologies, including a 9-meter unfurlable reflector, which will allow for highly-concentrated transmissions to small, advanced devices.
Loral also has agreed to provide SIRIUS a vendor-financing facility of up to $100 million.
The satellite will join three other SIRIUS satellites in orbit, all manufactured by SS/L, plus SIRIUS FM-4, which currently is in ground storage.
SIRIUS delivers more than 125 channels of the best radio programming. SIRIUS provides commercial-free music channels in satellite radio, offering 67 music channels available nationwide, as well as 61 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data.
Space Systems/Loral is a designer, manufacturer and integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services that include mission-control operations and procurement of launch services.
The company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defense communications, environmental monitoring, and air traffic control. SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,200 years of on-orbit service.
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. In addition to Space Systems/Loral, through its Skynet subsidiary Loral owns and operates a fleet of telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming, and for broadband data transmission, Internet services and other value-added communications services.
