Press releases

Palo Alto, Calif. – December 9, 2016 — Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, today announced that it was selected to provide a spacecraft bus to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for its Restore-L servicing mission. The Restore-L mission, which will demonstrate the ability to extend the life of a satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), is scheduled to launch in 2020.

The Restore-L spacecraft will use robotics to grasp, refuel, and relocate an existing U.S. government satellite already in LEO orbit with the goal of demonstrating tools, technologies, and techniques that can be implemented on future government and commercial missions. The SSL spacecraft bus will provide the structure and power to support the mission. SSL will also provide critical hardware and services for development, deployment, and operations including services for mission integration, test, and launch.

“We are pleased to work with NASA to provide a high-performance spacecraft platform that will help make next generation satellite servicing a reality,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “This mission will be a breakthrough in the way we think about satellites on orbit, which previously could not be touched after launch. By using the SSL 1300 production platform as the structure and power system for the spacecraft, the mission will benefit from the high performance, reliability, and value that has been proven on more than a hundred missions.”

The SSL 1300 is a large, powerful, and reliable platform that has the flexibility to serve a broad range of missions ranging from space exploration to commercial communications. With more than 80 SSL 1300s on orbit today, it is the world’s most popular spacecraft platform and it comes with a very predictable schedule and fixed price driven by the demands of the highly competitive spacecraft market.

Restore-L is being conducted under the Technology Demonstration Mission for the Space Technology Mission Directorate and NASA Headquarters.  SSL is also contributing to a variety of other next generation U.S. government missions, including the Dragonfly mission for NASA and DARPA, which will demonstrate on-orbit satellite assembly.

 

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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