LMI-1 will operate at an orbital location of 75 degrees East. Equipped with 44 high-power C and Ku-band transponders, the satellite will provide high-quality and reliable fixed service telephony and direct broadcast television service.

The satellite will help satisfy the rapidly growing demand of Russian telecommunication and broadcasting companies for satellite capacity.

The spacecraft is the first of several planned state-of-the-art satellites that are to provide connectivity to business and residential customers. In addition to its Russian coverage, LMI-1 is to deliver telecommunications services in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eastern and Central Europe, Asia and Africa.

The satellite left Moffett Federal Airfield at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time Aug. 30 on an Antonov transport aircraft. LMI-1 arrived in Baikonur today at 10:00 a.m. PDT. LMI-1 is planned to begin providing service in November, following in-orbit checkout operations.

"This satellite will bring superior telecommunications coverage to an area that will benefit greatly from these space-based services," said Ralph Littreal, Commercial Space Systems program manager for LMI-1.

"The team members from Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications and Intersputnik have contributed greatly to this program and I greatly appreciate our continuing relationship," added Littreal.

"We're looking forward to providing a reliable, high power service to the people in this region and we are quite proud of this venture with our Russian partners in Intersputnik," commented John Sponyoe, President of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications and Co-Chairman of the Lockheed Martin Intersputnik venture.

LMI-1 is an A2100 geostationary satellite manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. The satellite was built in the company's state-of-the art commercial satellite manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, CA.

Lockheed Martin Intersputnik (LMI) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications and the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications. LMI was established in June 1997 to launch and operate a fleet of modern communications satellites forming a global integrated system for communications and broadcasting services.

Intersputnik is an international intergovernmental organization established in 1971 to operate a global commercial satellite-based telecommunications system. Today, Intersputnik has 23 member nations and provides high-quality international, regional and national communication services in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean regions. Intersputnik's users are state-run and private telecommunications and broadcasting organizations worldwide.

Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems

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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.