Press releases

PALO ALTO, Calif. – January 12, 2016 — Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that its president, John Celli, was selected for induction into the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) Satellite Hall of Fame.  He will be honored at the induction ceremony during the annual SSPI Hall of Fame Benefit Dinner on March 8, 2016 in conjunction with the SATELLITE 2016 conference at National Harbor, Maryland.

Mr. Celli has dedicated his career to making the world a better place through satellite technology. He has spent nearly 35 years at SSL, where he steered the company through numerous milestones and achievements. Under his direction SSL became the leading provider of commercial communications satellites and has maintained this position with roughly 30 percent market share for the past ten years.

Over the course of his career Mr. Celli has worked closely with most of the world's leading satellite operators. He has earned broad industry respect for his integrity and commitment to quality. He believes that the key to SSL's long-term success is in meeting its commitments, and the performance on its satellites on orbit.

As President, and before that Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of Engineering, Manufacturing, & Test Operations, Mr. Celli has guided the company through multiple technology advances, including the world's first high throughput satellite, the world’s first 20-kW satellite, and multiple advances in antenna technologies and satellite data handling systems. Under his management the company built the world's two highest capacity satellites on orbit today and is now also manufacturing small Earth observation satellites for Google's Skybox Imaging. 

Following MDA’s acquisition of SSL in 2012 Mr. Celli carefully managed the integration of the companies to benefit both organizations.  Under his direction SSL is now working on a program to use robotics for satellite assembly on orbit, and is partnering with NASA's JPL to explore a metal asteroid, which would not have been possible without the heritage of MDA robotics.

“Having guided SSL through some of its most significant achievements, John Celli is richly deserving of a place in our Satellite Hall of Fame,” said Robert Bell, SSPI executive director. “In addition to continually driving the company’s success, he has taken a special interest in encouraging young people in career development and STEM education, which is evidenced by six SSPI Future Leader Promise Award winners in the past seven years.”

The SSPI Satellite Hall of Fame has inducted visionaries and pioneers of satellite technology each year since 1987. Members of the Hall of Fame are recognized for having made a lasting contribution to the industry through technology, business and significant achievements that make the world a better place through the use of satellite technology. 

 

About SSPI      
The Society of Satellite Professionals International is a nonprofit member-benefit society that serves satellite professionals throughout their working lives.  With chapters in the Americas, the Middle East, Europe and Asia, SSPI works to attract new talent to the industry, helps satellite professionals advance in their careers, works to increase the professional standing of members and honors extraordinary achievement by satellite professionals and the companies they work for.

About SSL
Space Systems Loral (SSL) is a leading provider of commercial satellites with broad expertise to support satellite operators and innovative space related missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband Internet, mobile communications, and Earth observation.  As a Silicon Valley innovator for more than 50 years, SSL’s advanced product line also includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and automation solutions for remote operations.  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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