August 13, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NASDAQ: LORL), and the provider of commercial satellites, announced that AsiaSat 5, a satellite built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications company Ltd. (AsiaSat), is performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan.

The satellite was successfully launched from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services.  The satellite’s solar array deployed on schedule and tomorrow the satellite is scheduled to begin firing its main thruster in order to start maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

“The success of AsiaSat 5 is the result of many hours of dedication and hard work by both the AsiaSat and SS/L teams,” said John Celli, president and chief operating officer of Space Systems/Loral. “The satellite will contribute to AsiaSat’s continuous success, and help this premier satellite operator to strengthen and expand its services throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”

When on orbit testing is completed, AsiaSat 5 will replace AsiaSat 2 at 100.5 degrees East longitude, where it will provide video distribution, broadband networking and other important communications services. Its global C-band beam will cover 53 countries spanning from Russia to New Zealand and from Japan to the Middle East and parts of Africa. The satellite also has two high-power fixed Ku-band beams over East Asia and South Asia, and a steerable Ku beam to address changing market demand in the region.

AsiaSat 5 is based on SS/L’s 1300 space-proven platform, which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. With the launch of AsiaSat 5, there are 57 Space Systems/Loral satellites currently on orbit.

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