The JCSAT-9 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for JSAT Corporation of Japan was successfully launched aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL launch vehicle from the Pacific Equator. Lift-off occurred at 7:30 p.m. EDT and initial contact with the satellite, called acquisition of signal, was confirmed at 9:16 p.m. EDT from the Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) satellite tracking station in Uralla, Australia.

JCSAT-9 is the second in a series of seven satellite launches planned this year for LMCSS and the first of three satellites Lockheed Martin will deliver to JSAT over the next two years. Based on Lockheed Martin's high-power A2100AX platform, JCSAT-9 will operate from 132 degrees east and is designed for a minimum service life of 12 years. JCSAT-9 is the 28th of Lockheed Martin's award-winning A2100 series of spacecraft delivered to satellite operators around the world.

"Lockheed Martin is deeply honored that JSAT has entrusted us with the opportunity to provide Mission Success for JCSAT-9," said LMCSS President Ted Gavrilis. "The satellite launched today will join the nine satellites currently in the JSAT fleet. In addition to providing coverage for domestic and mobile communications customer bases, JCSAT-9 will cover an extensive area ranging from Hawaii and Oceania to countries across Southeast Asia."

JCSAT-9 features 20 Ku-band channels covering Japan and 20 C-band channels covering Japan, Southeast Asia and Hawaii. JCSAT-9 is also equipped with a mobile service communications subsystem.

Lockheed Martin's highly reliable A2100 telecommunications satellite series has received several industry awards for reliability in its history, including a 2004 Frost & Sullivan Satellite Reliability Award for excellence in the production of flexible and reliable communications satellites used in geosynchronous Earth orbit.

The Lockheed Martin A2100 spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of commercial and government telecommunications needs ranging from Ka-band/broadband services and fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band payload configurations, to high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and S-band mobile satellite services. The A2100's modular design features a reduction in parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost.

The A2100 spacecraft's modular and scaleable design accommodates a large range of communication payloads as demonstrated in the 27 spacecraft successfully flown to date. The "designed-in" modularity enables the A2100 spacecraft to support missions in addition to communication payloads. The A2100 design is currently being adapted for medium earth orbit (MEO) navigation missions and geostationary earth orbit (GEO)-based earth observing missions.

About JSAT Corporation

JSAT Corporation is a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region. The company owns and operates nine satellites in eight orbital slots, covering North America, Hawaii, Asia and Oceania. JSAT provides a range of services, including digital CS broadcasting service SKY PerfecTV! satellite TV broadcasting, video and data broadcasting services for corporate and inter-company networks and international telecommunications services.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.

Media Contacts: Dee Valleras, 215-497-4185; e-mail, dee.valleras@lmco.com

For more information about Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, see our web site at www.lmcommercialspace.com.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin