Successful Launch: Loral-Built Intelsat 901 Telecommunications Satellite;.

Business Editors/Hi Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2001

New Spacecraft is First in Intelsat IX Series, 25th Satellite

Built by Space Systems/Loral for the International

Telecommunications Consortium.

Intelsat 901, the latest in a line of advanced telecommunications satellites built for Intelsat by Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NYSE: LOR), was successfully launched at 2:45 a.m. EDT (6:15 a.m. GMT) this morning.

The satellite was sent into space from the European Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 44L launch vehicle.

Intelsat 901, to service the Atlantic Ocean region from its 342(Degree) East orbital position, is the first to be launched of the seven Intelsat IX series satellites SS/L is building for the world's largest satellite operator. The remaining six satellites in the series will be launched over the next two years.

Intelsat 901, and each of the new Intelsat IX series satellites, carries 42 C-band and 14 Ku-band operating transponders, and its solar arrays will generate more than 8.6 kilowatts of power (beginning of life). This Intelsat IX series of spacecraft will carry a much greater percentage of high-power amplifiers and generate more solar array power than their predecessors with only a small increase in dry mass.

The increased power and efficiency of the new Intelsat IX satellites will provide better coverage and stronger signals to help satisfy the burgeoning global appetite for digital services, smaller earth stations, and specialized communications services. They will replace Intelsat VI satellites, now on orbit, to provide enhanced voice, video, and data transmission services across the globe.

Intelsat 901 is the 25th satellite delivered to the international satellite operator since 1976 by SS/L. With the delivery of the Intelsat-IX series, SS/L will have built 31 spacecraft for Intelsat, nearly half of their fleet, and significantly more than any other manufacturer.

The spacecraft is a version of SS/L's space-proven 1300 geostationary satellite platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. The 1300 is designed to achieve a long useful orbital life, in this case 13 years, excellent station-keeping, and orbital stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems. A system of high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries provides uninterrupted electrical power. In all, SS/L satellites have amassed a total of more than 800 years of service.

The Companies

Intelsat is an international communications provider offering Internet, broadcast, telephony and corporate network solutions around the globe through its fleet of 19 satellites. For nearly four decades, many of the world's leading telecommunications companies, multinational corporations and broadcasters in more than 200 countries and territories have relied on Intelsat satellites and staff for quality connections, global reach and reliability. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.

Space Systems/Loral is one of the world's premier designers, manufacturers, and integrators of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services, including mission control operations and procurement of launch services. Based in Palo Alto, California, the company has an international base of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include broadcast video distribution, broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, environmental monitoring and air traffic control. SS/L is ISO 9001 certified.

For more information, visit www.ssloral.com.

Loral Space & Communications is a high technology company that concentrates primarily on satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services, including broadcast transponder leasing and value added services, domestic and international corporate data networks, broadband data transmission and content services and Internet services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at www.loral.com.