The spacecraft will carry the name Horizons-2 and will be launched into a PanAmSat-licensed orbital slot at 74 degrees West Longitude over the United States. The new order calls for a 22-month on-ground delivery schedule. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Once again, our smaller-sized STAR GEO satellite platform has proved to be the ideal choice for satellite operators that seek an optimal balance between satellite capacity and customer demand," said Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's commercial GEO satellite business unit. "We are delighted to add JSAT to the list of blue-chip customers who have adopted the 'STAR small satellite solution,' an industry trend of which PanAmSat has been the leading proponent."

The new satellite is the fifth that has been ordered through the company's association with PanAmSat, which originally became a customer in 2001. Prior to the Horizons-2 joint venture order with JSAT, PanAmSat had previously purchased from Orbital three C-band satellites for U.S. domestic communications services, and a hybrid (C and Ku bands) satellite for international services.

"We are pleased to announce the purchase of the Horizons-2 satellite which extends two significant partnerships that PanAmSat has developed over the past five years," said Joe Wright, CEO PanAmSat.

"First, PanAmSat and JSAT will double capacity in our Horizons joint venture, which has already proven to be a highly successful for both companies. This satellite will provide Ku-band growth capacity in North America for PanAmSat in 2007 through the next decade. And secondly, we are extending our relationship with Orbital Sciences as our primary supplier of small satellites which have become a critical part of our business strategy going forward."

The first C-band satellite, Galaxy 12, was launched in 2003 and the second, Galaxy 14, was launched earlier this month. The last of the original three-satellite order, Galaxy 15, was recently shipped to the launch site in preparation for a launch in September. A fourth satellite was ordered earlier this year, the hybrid PAS-11, which is currently in the design and manufacturing phase.

The Horizons-2 satellite will carry 20 active high-power Ku-band transponders. The satellite will generate approximately 3.5 kilowatts of payload power and will weigh about 2,300 kg at launch.

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