PALO ALTO, Calif., 7 June 2005. Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) today announced that it has been awarded a contract by XM Satellite Radio, in Washington, D.C., to build XM-5, a high-power, digital audio radio service (DARS) satellite that will serve as a ground spare in the XM Satellite Radio fleet, ensuring XM subscribers across North America with continued high- quality, digital- music, entertainment and data services.
Scheduled for delivery in 2007, XM-5 has an on-orbit design life of 15 years and will carry a state-of-the-art DARS payload featuring two large, unfurlable mesh antennas. Its end-of-life power capability of more than 18 kilowatts will make it one of the world's most powerful communications satellites.
"SS/L has built some of the world's most advanced direct-to-user communications satellites, allowing consumers and enterprises an expanded array of entertainment and services," said C. Patrick DeWitt, president, Space Systems/Loral. "SS/L welcomes XM to Loral's family of customers and looks forward to providing a reliable and powerful platform for its successful satellite radio service."
XM-5 is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 platform, which has a record of reliable operation. Its high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries are designed to provide uninterrupted electrical power. In all, SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,200 years of reliable on-orbit service.
"This order from XM, our fourth commercial satellite award in 2005, validates SS/L's leadership in the industry," said Bernard L. Schwartz, chairman and CEO of Loral Space & Communications. "We are exceedingly proud of SS/L for continuing to gain market share in the satellite manufacturing industry under challenging circumstances."
XM is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 4 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame, XM's 2005 lineup includes more than 150 digital channels of acclaimed radio programming from coast to coast. XM was named Best Radio Service at the 2004 Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards. For more information, see www.xmradio.com.
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, 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. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., 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. For more information, see www.ssloral.com.
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. For more information, see www.loral.com.
