PanAmSat Expands U.S. Video Satellite Fleet with Successful Launch of Galaxy XII.Business Editors WILTON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2003 New Satellite Completes Initiative to Provide Seamless and Comprehensive Backup Capability to US Cable Arc PanAmSat Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : SPOT) today announced that its new Galaxy XII satellite was successfully launched into space at 6:49 p.m. ET. Propelled into orbit by an Arianespace Ariane 5G rocket from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana French Guiana (gēăn`ə, –än`–), Fr. La Guyane française, officially Department of Guiana, French overseas department (2005 est. pop. , this is the 22nd satellite in PanAmSat's global fleet. The spacecraft, to be located at 74 degrees west longitude, will be deployed as PanAmSat's next-generation backup satellite for its domestic cable and broadcast video customers. Galaxy XII will also offer as-needed incremental Additional or increased growth, bulk, quantity, number, or value; enlarged. Incremental cost is additional or increased cost of an item or service apart from its actual cost. capacity for premium cable, HDTV (High Definition TV) A set of digital television (DTV) standards that offer the highest resolution and sharpest picture. Although some HDTV sets are available in standard (rather square) screen sizes, the overwhelming majority of sets are wide screen, which eliminates and specialized new services in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . "Galaxy XII's successful launch marks the completion of PanAmSat's strategy to strengthen our U.S. video coverage with reliable backup as we introduce smaller, more versatile and robust C-band satellites that provide excellent in-orbit protection, as well as support the delivery of emerging technologies and video services, such as HDTV and expanded Homeland Security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States applications," said Joe Wright, president and chief executive officer of PanAmSat. "Our original Galaxy cable neighborhood was a milestone in the satellite business and today, we are making another technological leap with the launch of Galaxy XII, which is timely given present needs for greater bandwidth by our private and government customers." Wright continued, "This new satellite is another example of PanAmSat's business strategy of providing state-of-the-art satellites that meet our customers needs, but are not used for risky market development. They are also designed from both a size and application standpoint so they are good investments rather than a financial burden on the rest of our business." Built and custom-designed for PanAmSat by Orbital Sciences, Galaxy XII is a 1790-kilogram Star 2 Bus model satellite with 24, 36-MHz C-band transponders. Galaxy XII is the first in a series of three C-band satellites being constructed by Orbital Sciences for PanAmSat. Orbital's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David W. Thompson said, "We are delighted to be part of such a successful beginning to the Galaxy XII mission, the launch of the first of three satellites we are building for PanAmSat. As the Orbital and PanAmSat engineering teams embark on the in-orbit check-out procedures to be conducted over the next several weeks for Galaxy XII, we look forward to delivering another fully-functional and highly reliable satellite later this year for one of our key customers." In addition to being the first satellite ever built by Orbital for PanAmSat, it is also the first of PanAmSat's next-generation satellites. Galaxy XII is the first of three Orbital satellites to be launched over the next 2.5 years that will provide leading-edge service to PanAmSat's premier cable customer communities. These satellites will deliver more than double the power of their predecessors, and are uniquely positioned to become the foundation of PanAmSat's domestic fleet driving growth in the business as our blue-chip customers transition from analog to digital programming and exploit the proliferation of emerging applications such as HDTV, Video-On-Demand and other digital services in the U.S. Galaxy XII will replace Galaxy IIIR IIIR Independent International Investment Research (UK) IIIR Integration of Internet Information Resources and provide coverage over the entire continental United States United States territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within North America between Canada and Mexico. Also called CONUS. . Among Galaxy XII's highlights are: -- PanAmSat's 12th satellite for the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , the 22nd in its fleet. -- Part of PanAmSat's strong U.S. Galaxy cable neighborhoods. -- First all C-band satellite replacement in the Galaxy cable neighborhood -- Available coverage from any slot in the domestic arc from 74 degrees west longitude to 133 degrees west longitude, including Hawaii and Alaska as the slots move further west. -- Advanced bus architecture with flight-proven hardware that offers increased downlink power at the edge of the coverage pattern. -- Two years of supplementary propellant pro·pel·lant also pro·pel·lent n. 1. Something, such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel, that propels or provides thrust. 2. on board beyond its 15-year design life span for added flexibility -- PanAmSat's 18th Arianespace launch About PanAmSat PanAmSat Corporation is the premier provider of global video and data broadcasting services via satellite. Operating a global network of 23 in-orbit spacecraft, the company reaches 98 percent of the world's population through cable television systems, broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service providers Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. and telecommunications companies. PanAmSat is 81 percent owned by HUGHES Electronics Corporation. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.panamsat.com. About Hughes Hughes Electronics Corporation, a unit of General Motors Corporation, is a world-leading provider of digital television entertainment, satellite-based private business networks, and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of HUGHES are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :GMH GMH General Motors Holden's ). |
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