Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by Rainbow DBS Company LLC, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation, to build its next five geostationary telecommunications satellites. Designated Rainbow Ka-1 through Rainbow Ka-5, and situated at their final orbital locations of 62W, 71W, 77W, 119W, and 129W degrees, the satellites will provide direct broadcast services across the continental United States (CONUS). In addition, the most western satellites at 119W and 129W degrees will provide service to Alaska and Hawaii. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

An artist's concept of Rainbow Ka-1. Credit: Lockheed Martin

The flexible designs of the spacecraft payloads feature multiple Ka-band spot beams as well as half-CONUS beams. Rainbow Ka-1 through Rainbow Ka-5 are based on Lockheed Martinšs A2100AX satellite, with a predicted service life of 15 years.

"Rainbow Ka-1 through Rainbow Ka-5 represent a continuation of our successful partnership with Rainbow DBS, for whom we built and launched Rainbow 1, one of the world's most powerful and technologically advanced spot beam satellites," said Ted Gavrilis, president, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. "We are pleased to offer Rainbow DBS greatly enhanced channel capacity using our highly reliable A2100 platform."

"We are delighted to partner once again with Lockheed Martin on the continued strategic evolution of VOOM, our satellite television service," said Tom Dolan, CEO of Rainbow Media Enterprises. "By utilizing the most sophisticated Ka-Band technology, VOOM will continue to increase channel capacity and further enhance delivery of both high-definition and standard-definition programming across the United States, in step with projected market demand."

Lockheed Martin's series of A2100 geostationary spacecraft are designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs ranging from high-power Ka, Ku and C-band fixed satellite and direct broadcast services to high power mobile satellite services using the L- and S-band frequency spectrum. The heritage A2100's modular design features flight-proven equipment, thus simplifying construction, shortening delivery schedule and increasing on-orbit reliability.

VOOM, provided by Rainbow DBS, a subsidiary of Cablevision System Corporation, is the first television service to provide a comprehensive array of high-definition (HD) programming for the rapidly growing but underserved HDTV audience. With a lineup of 39 HD channels, VOOM delivers more HD programming than any other satellite or cable service provider. VOOM's HD lineup includes STARZ! HD, Encore HD, Showtime HD, Playboy Hot HD, ESPN HD, HBO HDTV and Cinemax HDTV, as well as an exclusive package of brand-new, commercial-free VOOM HD Originals such as WorldSport, Equator and Animania. The service also includes 88 of the most popular cable channels in standard-definition (SD), 18 digital music channels, and free over-the-air digital broadcast channels in HD, where available. VOOM is offered across the continental United States through local Sears retailers; at BrandsMart USA stores; at Electronics Expo stores; through leading online retailer, Crutchfield Corporation; and through O'Rourke Sales Company's independent electronics retailers with approximately 10,000 locations in all 50 states.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.