HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., July 22, 1996 -- Hughes Communications, Inc., and McDonnell Douglas announced Galaxy® X is the satellite that will ride aboard the inaugural Delta III launch, scheduled for 1998. Hughes also exercised an option for an additional Delta III launch in 1998. This brings to 11 the total number of firm launches in the long-term Hughes Electronics/McDonnell Douglas agreement.
"Given the tradition of excellent performance that Hughes Communications and McDonnell Douglas have enjoyed for more than a decade, it's only fitting that our Galaxy X be the first satellite launched by the new Delta III rocket series," said Jerry Farrell, president of Hughes Communications, Inc. "A Delta rocket launched our first satellite, Galaxy I, and it became the industry's premiere cable-dedicated satellite. Now we'll continue that legacy with a bigger and better cable-dedicated satellite plus a bigger and better launch vehicle."
"McDonnell Douglas values greatly the continued confidence Hughes Communications has shown by their selection of the Delta III for a program of such critical importance to their business," said Bob Cowls, general manager of McDonnell Douglas Commercial Delta, Inc.
Galaxy X will be an HS 601HP built by Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC), the world's leading provider of commercial communications satellites. A dual-payload satellite with both C-band and Ku-band capacity, Galaxy X will take the orbital position of Galaxy IX at 123 degrees west longitude. Galaxy IX will then move to 127 degrees. Galaxy IX customers migrating to Galaxy X after launch include Viacom, with the west coast feeds of Showtime, Nickelodeon, The Movie Channel and MTV; and the national feed of the Sundance Channel.
Delta III is a next-generation expendable launch vehicle being developed by McDonnell Douglas to target the medium to intermediate payload range, where market opportunities are expanding. Payload capacity for Delta III is 8,400 pounds to geosynchronous transfer orbit, more than twice the capability of the record-setting Delta II. The most significant changes in Delta III's evolution from the existing Delta II are a new single-engine, cryogenically propelled upper stage and a larger fairing to house the payload. The Delta III will be capable of launching Hughes' largest satellites, including the HS 601 and the HS 702.
Hughes Electronics' long-term contract for the Delta III launch vehicle is held by Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc., helping provide all units of Hughes Electronics and customers of HSC with the opportunity for access to space.
Hughes Communications is the world's largest private commercial satellite operator, with 20 spacecraft owned, leased or operated on behalf of U.S. and international customers. Hughes Communications, Inc., provides video and data communications services, and is a pioneer in the fields of satellite television distribution, mobile communications and high data rate transmission.
NOTE: Galaxy is a registered trademark of Hughes Communications, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.
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