An artist's concept of the Galaxy 10R communications satellite in space. Photo: Hughes

In Oct. 1998, PanAmSat Corporation returned to Hughes Space and Communications Company of El Segundo, Calif. for three new satellites. Galaxy 10R, one of the three ordered, will provide broadcast and telecommunications service to all 50 states and the Caribbean.

Galaxy 10R, an HS 601HP or "high power" spacecraft, will deliver analog as well as digital cable TV channels and will serve as a major pipeline for satellite-based telecommunications networks in the United States.

The satellite was built on an expedited basis, meaning that it is scheduled to launch 14 months after being ordered. Hughes, recognizing the importance of being prepared to quickly launch replacement satellites for its customers, had ordered many of the long-lead items. This, coupled with the increased production capacity in the Integrated Satellite Factory, the world's largest, made it possible for Hughes to provide Galaxy 10R to PanAmSat in such a short time period.

PanAmSat has ordered 14 HS 601 satellites from Hughes. Galaxy 10R will feature such innovations as dual-junction gallium arsenide solar cells, which have the ability to convert nearly 22 percent of the sun's rays into electrical power, and XIPS, a xenon ion propulsion system that is 10 times more efficient than the conventional bipropellant systems. With XIPS, a 90 percent reduction of propellant mass is possible, enabling the customer to opt for more payload, reduced launch costs, longer satellite life, or any combination of the above.

Galaxy 10R becomes the first satellite launch of the new year for Hughes.

The satellite was shipped Dec. 27 to Europe's spaceport, on the northeast coast of South America. Engineers and technicians from satellite builder Hughes Space and Communications Co. (HSC) and rocket builder Arianespace are making final preparations for the launch, set for 10:12 p.m. local time (5:12 p.m. PT, 0112 Jan. 25 GMT), using an Ariane 42L vehicle.

The spacecraft, a Hughes HS 601HP model, carries 48 active transponders, 24 each at C-band and Ku-band. It will be the fifth satellite in PanAmSat's Galaxy cable neighborhood at 123 degrees West longitude.

These satellites deliver cable television programming to nearly all of the 11,000 cable systems throughout the United States. The satellite's advanced communications payload will also deliver premium Internet and telecommunications services to high-profile customers throughout North America.

"Galaxy 10R is the first of five satellites we plan to launch this year for PanAmSat," said HSC President and Chief Executive Officer Tig H. Krekel. "We look forward to this being as successful a mission as last month's, when the very first Hughes HS 702 satellite, Galaxy 11, was launched for PanAmSat on an Ariane rocket.

Galaxy 10R facts
Spacecraft	HS 601HP
Life	15 years
Orbital Slot	123 degrees West
Dimensions	86 feet long 23 feet wide
Weights	7,661-lb at launch 4,711-lb in orbit
Power	2 solar wings with 4 panels each 8.8 kw beginning of life
Payload	24 C-band transponders 24 Ku-band transponders
Source: Hughes Space and Communications

"The HS 702 is the world's largest, most powerful commercial satellite ever launched. Similarly, the HS 601 is the world's most successful model, and this mission represents the 52nd HS 601 satellite." The four other satellites planned for PanAmSat this year are three HS 601HPs and one HS 702.

HSC is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, having built nearly 40 percent of those in operation. It also is a major supplier of spacecraft and equipment to the U.S. government, and a builder of weather satellites for the United States and Japan.

PanAmSat is the world's leading commercial provider of satellite-based communications services. The company operates a global network of 21 satellites supported by PanAmSat professionals on five continents. These resources enable PanAmSat to provide video and telecommunications services to the world's premier broadcasters and programmers as well as Internet and telecommunications companies.

After Galaxy 10R, PanAmSat plans to launch five additional satellites by mid-2001.

HSC is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp., the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and services. PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by Hughes Electronics.