Orbital successfully launched its AMC-21 communications satellite on August 14. The AMC-21 satellite, based on the company's STAR (News - Alert)-2 platform, was launched in initial orbit by an Ariane 5 rocket from the European space launch complex located near the equator in French Guiana.

 

Occupying the slot at 125 degrees West longitude from its operational location, the AMC-21 satellite is all set to provide Ku-band broadcast television and mobile broadband services to the Continental United States (CONUS), Southern Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. In conjunction with the program's prime contractor, Thales (News - Alert) Alenia Space, Orbital built, integrated and tested the AMC-21 spacecraft for SES Americom.

 

"The early mission results point to an excellent start for the AMC-21 spacecraft. The satellite is performing just as we would expect prior to embarking on the extensive set of in-orbit tests and orbit raising maneuvers to be performed over the next several weeks," stated Christopher Richmond, senior vice president and head of Orbital's GEO satellite programs division. "We also congratulate Arianespace (News - Alert) for another excellent launch campaign, resulting in the accurate deployment of the AMC-21 satellite."

 

The AMC-21 satellite is ready to perform a series of orbit-raising burns using its onboard rocket engines to achieve a circular orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the Earth. The mission engineering teams from SES (News - Alert) Americom, Thales Alenia Space and Orbital will conduct a comprehensive series of tests to ensure the spacecraft is ready for final hand-over to the customer after few weeks.

 

Orbital Sciences (News - Alert) Corporation manufactures smaller-sized geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellites, small rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. Orbital has 10 additional GEO spacecraft in various stages of design, production and testing at its Dulles, Virginia satellite manufacturing facility. It also has its presence in Earth-science satellites noticeable position in the national security space systems market.

 

AMC-21 is the first of five satellites Orbital is scheduled to provide for the SES Global family of companies in the near future. Orbital is providing the NSS-9 satellite, scheduled for launch in late 2008, for SES New Skies. In addition, Orbital is providing the AMC-5R and two additional satellites to SES Americom under a multi-satellite contract originally awarded to the company in 2007.