PALO ALTO, Calif. – July 21, 2014 – Space Systems/Loral (SSL), a leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that it was selected by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to integrate the flight hardware for a new capability designed to carry small science and technology missions to space on its geostationary (GEO) satellite platform.
SSL plans to support completing the design and integration of the first Payload Orbital Delivery system (PODs) accommodation on the SSL 1300 platform — which would enable affordable delivery of small free-flying spacecraft beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for future servicing, operational, science and technology space missions.
“The innovative PODs platform is paving the way for more affordable, frequent and sustainable access to space,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “DARPA’s vision and commitment to this capability could open the door to many other small satellite and in-orbit servicing missions, enabled by frequent access to space on the SSL 1300 and other GEO based platforms.”
SSL regularly works with a broad range of commercial satellite operators and has experience putting small government payloads and missions onto commercial spacecraft in order to reduce costs for both parties. SSL intends to work with both its commercial customers and Government agencies to facilitate this type of arrangement for the first implementation of the PODs platform and for other future missions.
About SSL
SSL has a long history of delivering reliable satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As a leading provider of commercial satellites, the company works closely with satellite operators to provide spacecraft for a broad range of services including television and radio distribution, digital audio radio, broadband Internet, mobile communications, and Earth observation. Billions of people around the world depend on SSL satellites every day. For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of Space Systems/Loral (SSL) with respect to future events and financial performance. When used in this news release, the words “believes”, “expects”, “plans”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “project”, “intend” or “outlook” or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance; risks associated with satellite manufacturing, including competition, cyclicality of SSL’s end-user markets, contractual risks, creditworthiness of customers, performance of suppliers and management of SSL’s factory and personnel; risk associated with financial factors such as volatility in exchange rates, increases in interest rates, restrictions on access to capital, and swings in global financial markets; risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation, including export controls and economic sanctions; and other risks, including litigation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects SSL’s beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, SSL disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.
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