Loral-Built MTSAT-1R Multi-Functional Satellite Succesfully

Press Release:

Loral-Built MTSAT-1R Multi-Functional Satellite Succesfully Launched

Press Release
News Article February 2005

Will Provide Meteorological and Air Traffic Management (ATM) Services to Asia-Pacific Region

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MTSAT-1R, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) for the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), was successfully launched today at 1:25 am PST. The satellite, a state-of-the-art, multi-functional, weather monitoring and air traffic control satellite, was sent into space aboard an H-IIA rocket from Japan's space center in Tanegashima, Japan.

From its geosynchronous orbital position at 140 degrees East longitude, MTSAT-1R will combine aeronautical services and a meteorological payload on one satellite. The satellite will provide meteorological and ATM services for users throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region -- as far south as Australia and New Zealand. The satellite's meteorological payload will enter service in the second quarter of 2005 and the ATM services will be offered in early 2006.

JCAB will use MTSAT-1R L-band mobile links to provide communications and navigational services for aircraft, increasing the efficiency of aircraft flight routes, providing flexible flight profile planning, enhancing air travel safety and improving the quality of aeronautical communications.

For JMA, MTSAT-1R will gather critical weather information for users throughout the Asia-Pacific region, broadcasting cloud imagery and continuous weather data, including cloud and water vapor distributions, cloud-motion wind vector, sea surface temperature, and information on typhoons and other severe weather conditions.

MTSAT-1R is a version of SS/L's space-proven, three-axis, body-stabilized 1300 bus. SS/L's satellites are designed to achieve long, useful, orbital life through use of bi-propellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems for excellent stationkeeping and orbital stability. A system of high-efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries provide uninterrupted electrical power. SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1100 years of reliable on-orbit service.

MTSAT-1R uses many of the same technologies developed for the most recently deployed U.S. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program, GOES, for which SS/L was the prime contractor. SS/L has manufactured five GOES satellites (I-M) under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for delivery to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for operations.

Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (BULLETIN BOARD: LRLSQ) , is a premier 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. SS/L satellites have amassed more than 1,100 years of reliable on-orbit service. SS/L is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

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.

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