Posted: Thu, Oct 2, 2003, 11:47 AM ET (1547 GMT)
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the satellite manufacturing division of satellite operator Loral, announced Wednesday that it has won a contract to build two broadcasting satellites for DirecTV. SS/L will build the DirecTV 8 and DirecTV 9S satellites under a deal valued at $220 million, according to a Loral statement. DirecTV 8, with 16 high-power transponders, is scheduled for delivery late in the first quarter of 2005 and will operate from 101 degrees west. DirecTV 9S, with between 44 and 54 transponders, will be delivered one quarter later; it will operate in one of several slots between 101 and 119 degrees west as a backup for DirecTV 4S and DirecTV 7S. Both spacecraft will be based on SS/L's 1300 series of communications satellites. The orders are the second and third this year for the satellite manufacturer, after Intelsat placed an order in July as part of an agreement to purchase several existing satellites operated by Loral. Prior to those contracts SS/L had gone nearly two years without a satellite order. The orders should help support the parent company, which is currently under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Loral press release