PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 18, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that XM-5, a satellite that it provided to SIRIUS XM Radio, America's satellite radio company, is performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite's solar arrays deployed on schedule last week, following a successful launch on Thursday from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan aboard a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS). The satellite fired its main thruster twice since that time to begin maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.
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"XM-5 is a large and powerful satellite," said Rob Briskman, Co-founder and Technical Executive of SIRIUS XM Radio. "This is the sixth satellite that Space Systems/Loral has built for SIRIUS XM Radio and it is the second to be delivered to geostationary orbit. We couldn't be more pleased with our long term relationship with SS/L and their continuous dedication to quality and reliability."
XM-5 is a 20-kW satellite that will be positioned at 85.2 degrees West Longitude following completion of in-orbit test. XM-5 is intended to serve as an in-orbit spare for the existing fleet of SIRIUS and XM satellites, ensuring that SIRIUS XM's services are reliably delivered to close to 20 million SIRIUS and XM subscribers. The satellite will also help with delivery of services such as XM NavTraffic®, which provides real-time traffic information to vehicles in markets across North America.
"Congratulations to SIRIUS XM Radio, ILS and Krunichev, on the successful launch," said John Celli, President of Space Systems/Loral. "It has been a privilege to work together with SIRIUS XM over the past 20 years to develop the robust technologies that provide more than 130 channels of audio entertainment across North America."
The XM-5 satellite is designed using the SS/L 1300 spacecraft platform, which has a long history of reliability and provides the power and flexibility for a broad range of applications. With the launch of XM-5, there are 63 SS/L-built 1300 satellites currently in orbit.
About SIRIUS XM Radio
SIRIUS XM is America's satellite radio company, broadcasting more than 135 channels of commercial-free music, and premier sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather, and data services to 19.9 million subscribers in cars, trucks, boats and aircraft, and through a wide range of mobile devices.
SIRIUS XM offers an array of content from some of the biggest names in entertainment, as well as from professional sports leagues, major colleges, and national news and talk providers. SIRIUS XM programming is also available at sirius.com and xmradio.com, and on Apple iPhone and iPod touch, BlackBerry and Android-powered mobile devices using the SIRIUS XM Premium Online App.
SIRIUS XM has arrangements with every major automaker and its radio products are available at retail locations nationwide, as well as shop.sirius.com and shop.xmradio.com.
About Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (Nasdaq:LORL), has a long history of delivering reliable satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As the world's leading provider of commercial satellites, the company works closely with satellite operators to provide spacecraft for a broad range of services including television and radio distribution, digital audio radio, broadband Internet, and mobile communications. Billions of people around the world depend on SS/L satellites every day. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com.
About Loral Space & Communications
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. Through its Space Systems/Loral subsidiary, the company is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of satellites and satellite systems for commercial and government applications including direct-to-home television, broadband communications, wireless telephony, weather monitoring, and air traffic management. Loral also owns 64 percent of Telesat, one of the world's largest providers of satellite services. Telesat operates a fleet of telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming, distribute direct-to-home video and broadband data services, and other value-added communications services. For more information, visit Loral's Web site at www.loral.com. LORL-G
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "believes," "expects," "plans," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "anticipates," "estimates," "project," "intend" or "outlook" or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. In addition, Loral Space & Communications Inc., Space Systems/Loral, Inc. or their representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing, which may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and press releases or oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer of the company. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results as a result of certain risks and uncertainties which are described as "Risk Factors" and in the "Commitments and Contingencies" note to the financial statements in Loral's most recent Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2010 and in our 2009 annual report on Form 10-K. The reader is specifically referred to this document, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to (1) risks associated with financial factors, including the global economic downturn, our history of losses and financial covenants in SS/L's credit agreement; (2) risks associated with satellite manufacturing, including competition, contractual risks, creditworthiness of customers, performance of suppliers and management of our factory and personnel; (3) regulatory risks, such as the effect of U.S. export control and economic sanction laws; and (4) other risks, including litigation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Furthermore, Loral and SS/L operate in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the control of Loral and SS/L.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
