Posted: Fri, Mar 30, 2007, 8:21 AM ET (1221 GMT)
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Thursday that it was won an order for commercial communications satellite from Australian company Optus. The Optus D3 satellite will be similar to the D1 and D2 satellites previously ordered by the company, with a payload of 32 Ku-band transponders. The spacecraft is scheduled for delivery in 2009; launch arrangements for the spacecraft were not announced. The order is the first this year for Orbital, who specializes in small GEO communications satellites.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  AFX article
•  Optus press release
•  Orbital press release