-- 149th Satellite Produced by Company to
Provide Communications Services Across Southeast Asia and Africa --
-- Spacecraft Activation and In-Orbit Testing Procedures Now Underway
--
DULLES, Va.Jan. 7, 2014--
Orbital
Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world s leading space
technology companies, today announced the THAICOM
6 communications satellite, built by the company for THAICOM Plc.,
was successfully launched into orbit yesterday aboard a Space
Exploration Technologies Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Lift off occurred at approximately 5:06 p.m. (EST) on January 6 and the
satellite was successfully separated from the rocket and deployed into a
super-synchronous transfer orbit approximately 31 minutes later.
Over the next several weeks, Orbital s satellite engineering and
operations team will work with their THAICOM counterparts to conduct
orbit-raising maneuvers and in-orbit testing to verify all the
spacecraft systems are functioning properly before it is officially
turned over to THAICOM for full operational control and commencement of
commercial service.
Early in the initial check-out and testing process, the THAICOM 6
satellite is performing very well, said Mr. Christopher Richmond,
Orbital s Senior Vice President of communications satellites. This is
the first GEOStar communications satellite we have built for THAICOM and
we are proud to be a part of their team, helping to address an increase
in demand for telecommunications services across Southeast Asia and
Africa.
Orbital designed, built and tested the THAICOM 6 satellite at its
satellite manufacturing and test facility in Dulles, VA. The satellite
carries a hybrid Ku- and C-band payload that operates with approximately
3.5 kilowatts of payload power. The Ku-band payload is comprised of
eight active transponders (9x36-MHz Transponder Equivalent) providing
services to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The C-band payload
features 12 active C-band transponders providing services via a regional
beam to Southeast Asia and six active C-band transponders (12x36-MHz
Transponder Equivalent) providing services to Africa. THAICOM 6 will be
located in orbit at 78.5 degrees East Longitude.
With this launch, 149 Orbital-built satellites have been produced and
delivered to commercial, civil government and national security
customers during the last 30 years. Of these, 32 have been GEOStar-class
geosynchronous communications and broadcasting spacecraft for commercial
customers around the world, while another 45 have been LEOStar-class
low-orbit commercial communications and imaging satellites. Seventy two
additional satellites have been built for various government agencies
and scientific organizations.
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
five satellites since its inception, including THAICOM 5, a Hot Bird
broadcasting satellite for Thailand and Southeast Asia, boarding more
than 500 TV channels, and THAICOM 4 (IPSTAR), the world s first
broadband satellite providing broadband services to 14 countries across
Asia-Pacific. The company s launch of THAICOM 6 will provide additional
capacity to strengthen THAICOM s Hot Bird position, and will also
serve the African market under the name Aficom-1 . Furthermore,
THAICOM-7 will also be launched in 2014 to expand THAICOM s service
capabilities and coverage in the regions.
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