Posted: Tue, Apr 19, 2005, 6:54 AM ET (1054 GMT)
PanAmSat has awarded a contract to Orbital Sciences Corporation for the construction of at least one, and as many as three, communications satellites, the companies announced Monday. PanAmSat will buy the PAS-11 satellite from Orbital; the 2,500-kilogram satellite will carry 18 Ku-band and 16 C-band transponders. The satellite is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2007. The contract also includes options for two additional, similar satellites. As is typical with such deals, financial details were not disclosed. PanAmSat had previously purchased three satellites from Orbital, which has carved out a market niche for small GEO communications satellites. One of those three satellites, Galaxy 12, was launched in 2003; Galaxy 14 and 15 are scheduled for launch later this year.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Orbital Sciences press release