Photo Release -- Space Systems/Loral-Built Satellite For Intelsat Successfully Performs Post-Launch Maneuvers

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 29, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that a communications satellite that it designed and built for Intelsat, the world's largest satellite operator, is performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite deployed its solar arrays Friday afternoon, following its successful launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Since then, it has also fired its main thruster twice to begin maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

Space Systems/Loral built Intelsat 17 is shown here before it shipped to launch base.

A photo accompanying this release is available at  http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8363

"SS/L has been building satellites for Intelsat for more than 35 years," said John Celli, President of Space Systems/Loral. "The successful launch of another Space Systems/Loral-built Intelsat satellite is a tribute to the spirit of teamwork and dedication that our companies share." 

Intelsat 17 will be located at 66 degrees East longitude where it will replace Intelsat 702, which was launched in 1994 and was also built by Space Systems/Loral. The satellite will be positioned adjacent to Intelsat's Asian video distribution neighborhood located at 68.5 degrees East longitude and will provide video services and network services across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

"We were very pleased with Space Systems/Loral's hard work on the Intelsat 17 mission," said Ken Lee, Intelsat's Senior Vice President, Space Systems. "More than half the satellites in our fleet are provided by Space Systems/Loral, which speaks to the quality of our long term collaborative relationship."