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Loral to build next XM Satellite Radio craft SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL NEWS RELEASE Posted: June 9, 2005 Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) announced that it has been awarded a contract by XM Satellite Radio, Washington DC, 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. "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." 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 an excellent 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. XM is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 4 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, 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. Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (OTCBB: 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 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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The co-chairs and other members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group, which is overseeing NASA's space shuttle program, hold a news conference in Houston on June 8.
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Technicians ready space shuttle Discovery for demating from the external fuel tank inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. (1min 24sec file)
Space shuttle Discovery is demated from its original external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. The ship is lowered to its transport trailer in the Vehicle Assembly Building. (2min 38sec file)
Shuttle Discovery enters into the Vehicle Assembly Building after a 10-hour journey from launch pad 39B. (4min 29sec file)
The International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew pays tribute to our fallen heroes for Memorial Day. (1min 00sec QuickTime file)
In the predawn hours, the Apollo-era crawler-transporter is driven beneath shuttle Discovery's mobile launch platform at pad 39B in preparation for the rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building. (2min 37sec QuickTime file)
Workers disconnect a vast number of umbilicals running between launch pad 39B and Discovery's mobile launch platform for the rollback. The cabling route electrical power, data and communications to the shuttle. (2min 32sec file)
The crawler-transporter begins rolling space shuttle Discovery off launch pad 39B at 6:44 a.m. EDT May 26 for the 4.2-mile trip back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. (7min 28sec file)
This animation shows the Voyager spacecraft heading into the solar system's final frontier and the edge of interstellar space. (1min 24sec file)
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin and Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy chat with reporters at the Cape on a wide range of topics. The press event was held during Griffin's tour of the spaceport. (27min 48sec file)