-- Company Scheduled to Deliver its Second Satellite For Thaicom in
the First Half of 2016 --
-- THAICOM 8 to Provide Ku-Band Services to Thailand, South Asia and
Africa --
DULLES, Va.May 19, 2014--
Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world s leading
space technology companies, announced today that Thaicom PLC (SET Index:
THCOM) has authorized the company to begin the development,
manufacturing, integration and testing process for the THAICOM 8
commercial communications satellite. THAICOM 8 will be the second
satellite that Orbital will build for Thaicom, following the launch and
in-orbit testing and activation of THAICOM 6 in January 2014. THAICOM 8
will join the many GEOStar communications satellite platforms ordered
by customers around the world. The new satellite will be produced at
Orbital s state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles,
VA.
The THAICOM 8 satellite s payload features 24 active Ku-band
transponders to provide services to Thailand, South Asia and Africa. The
satellite will generate approximately 5.0 kilowatts of payload power and
will be located at 78.5 degrees East Longitude. It is scheduled for
completion and launch in the first half of 2016.
Commenting on the start of THAICOM 8 production, Mr. Christopher
Richmond, Orbital s Senior Vice President of its Communications
Satellites Division, said, We are delighted that Thaicom has joined the
ranks of repeat customers for our GEOStar satellite product line. We
look forward to executing another very successful program and
contributing to their long-term business growth.
Mr. Pramook Chaiwongwutthikul, Thaicom s Senior Vice President for
Satellite Engineering and Operation, said, Orbital was an
excellent partner on the THAICOM 6 program. We are very pleased to have
given Orbital the authorization to begin production of THAICOM 8, which
will be the eighth Thaicom satellite. Their GEOStar platform is an ideal
match for our requirements in terms of performance, price and schedule,
and will help us strengthen our market in Thailand and expand our
services in South Asia and Africa.
Orbital s highly successful communications satellites are based on the
company s GEOStar satellite platform, which is able to accommodate all
types of commercial communications payloads. The GEOStar design is
optimized for satellite missions requiring up to 8 kilowatts of payload
power. In most instances, the affordable GEOStar satellite can be built
and delivered in 24 months or less.
About Thaicom Public Company Limited
Thaicom PLC, established in 1991, has more than 20 years of experience
in the satellite business. Thaicom is Asia s leading satellite operator
with a unique proposition in providing integrated solutions for
satellite broadcast and broadband services. The company has launched six
satellites since its inception, including THAICOM 6 (built by Orbital)
to provide additional capacity to strengthen Thaicom s Hot Bird
position, and also serve the African market under the name Africom-1,
and THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR), the world s first broadband satellite providing
broadband services to 14 countries across Asia-Pacific. Furthermore,
THAICOM 7 will also be launched in 2014 to expand Thaicom s service
capabilities and coverage in the regions. For more information, please
visit the company s website at www.thaicom.net.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and
space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers.
The company s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles,
including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary
spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense
missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other
missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into
orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and
target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and
space-related technical services to government agencies and
laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com.
Follow the company on Twitter @OrbitalSciences

Source: Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Barron Beneski (703) 406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
Beneski.barron@orbital.com