GEOStar Spacecraft Handed Over to DIRECTV Customer for Full
Operational Control
DULLES, Va.Jun. 30, 2015--
Orbital ATK, Inc. (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced that the SKY MEXICO-1 (SKYM-1) satellite,
built by the company for DIRECTV, successfully completed on-orbit
testing and checkout of all spacecraft systems. The satellite was handed
over to DIRECTV for full operational control after several weeks of
orbit-raising activities that were conducted after the launch.
Launched May 27, 2015 from Kourou, French Guiana, SKYM-1 will provide
direct-to-home television broadcast services to Mexico, Central America
and the Caribbean for DIRECTV. The satellite is based on Orbital ATK s
flight-proven GEOStar-2 platform and marks the 35th GEOStar
spacecraft launched for customers around the world.
We are proud to be a part of our customer s mission success by
delivering a high-quality, reliable satellite that will provide DIRECTV
and its customers with state of the art broadcasting and communications
services for years to come, said Chris Richmond, Vice President and
General Manager of Orbital ATK s commercial satellite division. Our
ability to produce affordable technology and unprecedented rapid
execution from design to launch demonstrates our commitment to build
strong and lasting partnerships with our customers.
Orbital ATK not only delivered the satellite four months early, but the
satellite mission and in-orbit testing proceeded flawlessly, said Phil
Goswitz, Senior Vice President of Space & Communications at DIRECTV. We
were able to begin service 22 months after the contractual program start
enabling our partners at SKY MEXICO to expand their HDTV services
earlier than scheduled. DIRECTV and SKY MEXICO are grateful to Orbital
ATK for this exceptional performance.
Orbital ATK produced the SKYM-1 satellite in just 20 months and
delivered it to the launch site four months ahead of the original
baseline schedule.
Built and manufactured at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in
Dulles, Virginia, SKYM-1 is equipped with 24 active Ku-band transponders
and two active R-band transponders to provide DIRECTV s premium video
broadcast services to millions of users. The commercial communications
satellite uses reflectors, solar arrays and structural components
produced by Orbital ATK s Space Components Division in California and
Utah. At launch, the spacecraft weighed 2,962 kg (6,530 pounds) and
carried sufficient fuel on board to provide an anticipated 20-year
mission life.
SKYM-1 is the first satellite built by Orbital ATK for DIRECTV. The
company is currently producing the following satellites that will be
delivered and launched for customers over the next several years:
Thaicom-8, Al Yah 3, HYLAS 4 and SES-16/GovSat.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.
The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation
systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and
merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related
propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense
electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition;
satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced
aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK
employs more than 12,000 people in 20 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.
Source: Orbital ATK, Inc.
Orbital ATK
Media Contact:
Vicki Cox, 703-406-5663
Space
Systems Group Public Relations
vicki.cox@orbitalatk.com
or
Investor
Contact:
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Investor Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com