DIRECTV 8 Poised to Enhance Satellite

[snekky1]

El Segundo, CA Apr 19, 2005 DIRECTV 8, a new satellite that will reinforce the DIRECTV satellite fleet and provide support for the expansion of new digital and high-definition services for DIRECTV's more than 13.9 million customers, is being readied for a mid-May launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The satellite will enhance DIRECTV® programming services at the 101 degree West Longitude orbital slot and take over service from an older satellite at that orbit location later this summer. In preparation for the launch, DIRECTV 8, a Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)-built, high-power Ku/Ka-band hybrid spacecraft, is being integrated with the International Launch Services Proton launch vehicle at the Cosmodrome.

The DIRECTV 8 launch will be the second DIRECTV satellite launched from the Cosmodrome, the oldest space launch facility in the world - dating back to Sputnik and more recently, was the site of the launch last week of a Soyuz manned mission to the International Space Station.

"Our satellites, which are the backbone of DIRECTV, make it possible for us to offer new and expanded services to our customers," said Jim Butterworth, senior vice president, Communication Systems, DIRECTV, Inc. "We are pleased with the smooth and rapid progress DIRECTV 8 is making toward its scheduled launch next month. SS/L completed assembly, integration and testing well ahead of schedule, and with the satellite now at the launch site, we have ample time for integration with the Proton launch vehicle and the option of accelerating the launch date."

"SS/L is proud to begin another launch campaign with DIRECTV, one of its most important customers," said C. Patrick DeWitt, president, Space Systems/Loral. "This is the 12th satellite delivered to U.S. direct broadcasters by SS/L based on the powerful and reliable 1300 design. With DIRECTV 8, SS/L has been able to cost-effectively integrate advanced satellite features with high-performance space-proven technology to deliver a spacecraft that will support DIRECTV's high-capacity requirements."

The DIRECTV 8 satellite will provide selectable medium- and high-power Ku-band broadcast services to DIRECTV customers with a Ka-band payload that will be available to link DIRECTV broadcast facilities as part of the DIRECTV initiative to significantly expand its capacity to launch hundreds of local digital and high-definition services.