Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that it has signed a major new contract in its geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite manufacturing business.

Indonesia's state-owned telecommunications company, PT Telkomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TELKOM), has signed a contract with Orbital to manufacture one GEO communications satellite. The satellite, based on the company's state-of-the-art STAR-2 platform, will carry 24 C-band transponders and will be designed for a 15-year in-orbit life. The contract calls for a satellite delivery schedule that supports a planned launch in late 2004.

"This satellite contract from TELKOM is further evidence that our small satellite solution is an ideal fit for many customers around the world," said Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's GEO communications satellite unit. "For customers such as TELKOM, whose frequency availability does not call for one of the industry's larger, more expensive spacecraft, our STAR-2 design provides the most modern, easy to manage small satellite available today. With an advanced satellite design based on three-axis stabilization and a significant power margin over our nearest competitor, we have become the preferred supplier of satellites in this class," Dr. Atia concluded.

The order from TELKOM builds on Orbital's growing list of GEO communications satellites in orbit or in production. To date, Orbital has manufactured and launched four GEO satellites and has six other GEO spacecraft in various stages of design or production.

The new TELKOM satellite will be based on Orbital's STAR-2 platform, which provides up to 4.5 kilowatts of payload power and can carry as many as 40 transponders for C-, L-, S-, X-, Ka- and Ku-band applications. STAR-2 satellites range in launch mass from approximately 1,500 to 2,300 kilograms. Orbital also offers a slightly smaller GEO platform, the STAR-1, which provides up to 1.5 kilowatts of payload power and weighs approximately 1,000 to 1,500 kilograms at launch.

The new satellite for TELKOM will be launched into geosynchronous orbit, 22,300 miles above the Earth, at 118 degrees East longitude. The satellite will enable TELKOM to replace its existing Palapa-B4 satellite with an expansion of its coverage area into Southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent in addition to its current Indonesian capacity. The satellite will be used for voice, video and data communications for the region.

Orbital is one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of affordable space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The company's primary products include low-orbit, geosynchronous and planetary spacecraft for communications, scientific and remote sensing missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as target and interceptor 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.