Lockheed Martin-Built ASTRA 1L Satellite Begins Service for SES ASTRA Customers
NEWTOWN, Pa., July 11 / -- The ASTRA 1L broadcasting satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), is now operational for SES ASTRA, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), following successful on-orbit deployment and checkout of all spacecraft systems.
ASTRA 1L is located at orbital location 19.2 degrees East and features 29 active Ku band transponders used to provide distribution of direct-to-home broadcast services across Europe as well as a 2-transponder Ka band payload for interactive applications. ASTRA 1L is designed to provide 15 years of service and will ensure further fleet optimization by allowing the release of ASTRA 2C from its current location of 19.2 degrees East. Furthermore, it will reinforce SES ASTRA's inter satellite back-up concept.
"We are very pleased to offer our customers broader and better service with the activation of ASTRA 1L," said Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. "The new satellite allows us to redeploy our fleet and significantly increase the capacity for the important UK and Irish markets. This enables us to even better satisfy the high customer demand from these markets. We remain focused on delivering the highest technical quality and reliability, a unique back-up and safety scheme as well as a broad range of additional services."
"Our team executed a highly efficient on-orbit checkout of this world-class, high-performance spacecraft," said LMCSS Vice-President & General Manager Marshall Byrd. "Our continued focus on Mission Success has resulted in meeting SES ASTRA's expectations. We are extremely proud of the A2100's tremendous record of success and we look forward to the launch of future spacecraft for our SES customer."
ASTRA 1L is the 15th A2100 series spacecraft designed, built and launched for SES companies by Lockheed Martin and is the 32nd straight successful launch of an A2100 spacecraft for customers worldwide. Lockheed Martin is currently building SIRIUS 4 for SES SIRIUS and AMC-14 for SES AMERICOM.
The A2100 spacecraft's design accommodates a large range of communication payloads as demonstrated by the 32 spacecraft currently on orbit, which have now accumulated over 180 years of on-orbit service. The A2100 also serves as the platform for critical government communications programs including Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Mobile User Objective System and will be the foundation for Lockheed Martin's TSAT offering.
About SES ASTRA
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 109 million DTH and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 12 satellites, transmitting 1,864 analogue and digital television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their agencies. With 26 High Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA is also the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. ASTRA's prime orbital positions are 19.2 degrees East, 28.2 degrees East, and 23.5 degrees East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). SES owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provide global coverage and connectivity. The Company also holds strategic participations in SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 36 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com/ .
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.
Media Contacts:
Dee Valleras, Lockheed Martin, + 1-215-497-4185; e-mail dee.valleras@lmco.com
Source: Lockheed Martin
Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
