Galaxy XR, PanAmSat's 21st satellite in its global fleet, will enable PanAmSat to create its fifth orbital location in the Galaxy cable neighborhood, the premier platform for the delivery of cable programming throughout the United States.

Galaxy XR is also the second of seven new satellites in PanAmSat's expansion and backup plan, which will grow the company's fleet to 25 spacecraft by mid-2001.

Galaxy XR, a 3,500-kilogram HS 601 HP model satellite built by Hughes Space and Communications Co., was propelled into space aboard an Ariane rocket at 10:04 p.m. local time (8:04 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

The satellite, to be located at 123 degrees west longitude, will employ its 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders to provide premium cable, Internet and telecommunications services in North America.

Its high-profile customers include Disney, GCI, Hughes Network Systems, TVN Entertainment, University of Southern California and Viacom. Galaxy XR was PanAmSat's 15th launch with Arianespace.

"The successful deployment of Galaxy XR adds much needed capacity to our domestic U.S. fleet," said R. Douglas Kahn, PanAmSat's president and chief executive officer.

"With the launch of Galaxy XI last month and now Galaxy XR, PanAmSat has begun the new century by reaffirming its position as the preeminent global provider of satellite communications services."

Galaxy XR is the latest satellite in PanAmSat's Galaxy cable neighborhood, which consists of Galaxy IR at 133 degrees west longitude, Galaxy V at 125 degrees west longitude, Galaxy VII at 91 degrees west longitude and Galaxy IX 123 degrees west longitude.

Together these satellites already deliver more than 90 of the most popular cable television channels to virtually all of the more than 11,000 cable headends throughout the United States.

With Galaxy XR at 123 degrees west longitude, PanAmSat will transition Galaxy IX to 127 degrees west longitude, enabling the company to create its fifth platform for the delivery of cable programming.

With this redeployment, Galaxy XR, Galaxy V and Galaxy IX will be located just two degrees from each other in space, enabling cable headends to employ only one multi-beam antenna to receive dozens of cable television channels located on the three satellites.

In addition to C-band cable services, Galaxy XR's 24 Ku-band transponders will maintain high-quality service for the company's SBS-5 customers, which will transition to this new satellite. Galaxy XR will significantly expand PanAmSat's Ku-band capacity at 123 degrees west longitude as well.

Following today's successful launch, PanAmSat will begin preparations for the deployment of Galaxy IVR in late March 2000. Galaxy IVR, which will operate from 99 degrees west longitude, will enable Galaxy XI to transition to its permanent location at 91 degrees west longitude, where it will serve as the long-term replacement for Galaxy VII.

Galaxy VI, which is the short-term backup for Galaxy VII, will also move to a new orbital location and continue to serve as the in-orbit spare for the Galaxy cable neighborhood.

Upon completion, PanAmSat will operate five satellites in its Galaxy cable neighborhood and an in-orbit spare for comprehensive services.

PanAmSat will complete its ambitious deployments with the scheduled launches of four additional spacecraft, intended to provide expansion and backup services to the company's international customers.

The PAS-1R and PAS-9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellites will follow Galaxy IVR in rapid succession during the second quarter 2000, followed by the PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region and Galaxy IIIC satellites in the fourth quarter 2000 and the second quarter 2001 respectively.

With these seven new high-power satellites, PanAmSat will operate the largest commercial geosynchronous communications satellite fleet in the world.

Hughes Space and Communications

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Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India.