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Atlas 5 launches ASTRA
The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket blasts off with the European ASTRA 1KR television broadcast satellite right on time April 20 from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

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STS-51A: Daring mission
Soon after the Palapa and Westar communications satellites got stranded in worthless orbits following their deployment from shuttle Challenger in February 1984, planners began devising a rescue mission to launch that November. The STS-51A flight of shuttle Discovery is arguably one of the most daring and complex space missions ever attempted. The crew successfully launched two communications satellites and then retrieved Palapa and Westar during extraordinary spacewalks using jet-propelled backpacks and hands-on muscle power. Watch the amazing flight unfold with narration by the crew in this post-flight film.

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Memories of STS-1
In the continuing 25th anniversary celebration of STS-1, this program looks at the engineering challenges behind development of the space shuttle and performing the first flight from Mission Control. This panel includes Milt Heflin, the STS-1 ascent/entry electrical power system flight controller, former space shuttle program manager Bob Thompson, former orbiter project manager Aaron Cohen, Neil Hutchinson, the STS-1 ascent flight director, and astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen.

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Orbital to build satellite platform for AMC-21 satellite
ORBITAL NEWS RELEASE
Posted: April 25, 2006

Orbital Sciences Corporation today announced that it has signed a contract with Alcatel Alenia Space of France to supply a STAR-2 spacecraft bus and provide final spacecraft and system integration and test of SES AMERICOM's AMC-21 commercial communications satellite. The spacecraft's engineering, manufacturing, integration and test activities will take place at Orbital's satellite manufacturing facility located in Dulles, VA. Alcatel Alenia Space will act as prime contractor for the project, provide the communications payload and deliver the AMC-21 satellite to SES AMERICOM, a leading U.S.-based satellite operator with headquarters in Princeton, NJ.

The AMC-21 satellite will carry 24 high-powered Ku-band channels and will operate from the 125 degree West longitude orbital location over the United States. The STAR-2 platform will deliver 6 kilowatts of gross power and support a 16-year on-orbit mission life. AMC-21 is scheduled to be delivered and launched in the spring of 2008.

AMC-21 is the sixth STAR-2 satellite purchased since April 2005 by customers around the world and the first spacecraft bus Orbital has sold to Alcatel Alenia Space and, by extension, to the SES GLOBAL family of companies.

Commenting on the contract announcement, Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's communications satellite division, said, "We are pleased to be partnering with Alcatel Alenia Space on the AMC-21 program and to have this opportunity to introduce our STAR-2 satellite platform to a premier satellite operator, SES AMERICOM. We look forward to deepening our relationships with both companies in the coming months and years."

Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary-orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing and scientific missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.