<<

November 2012 A monthly round-up of space industry developments for the information of our clients and friends.

SES and ESA to Collaborate on Electra November Launch Services On November 30, SES S.A. (SES) November 10 – S.A. announced that it will be working with the successfully launched the 21B European Space Agency (ESA) on the and satellites for Eutelsat Electra program, a public-private partnership Communications S.A. and Star One S.A. dedicated to the development of a European respectively on an all-electric propulsion small/medium-sized from the Guiana Space Center in French satellite platform. SES, which will lead the Guiana. , which was program, and particularly the satellite design manufactured by , definition phase, has selected OHB-System carries 40 Ku-band transponders and will AG to serve as its prime contractor. provide increased capacity for data, MDA Closes Space Systems/Loral Acquisition professional video and government services On November 2, MacDonald Dettwiler and to customers in Europe, North Africa, Central Associates Ltd. (MDA) announced that it Asia and the Middle East. Star One C3, has completed the acquisition of Space manufactured by Orbital Sciences Systems/Loral, Inc., which was a wholly- Corporation, carries 28 C- and 16 Ku-band owned subsidiary of Loral Space & transponders and will provide TV, data and Communications Inc. (Loral). Upon closing, voice transmission services to users Loral received approximately $968m in cash throughout South America. and a bank-guaranteed 3-year promissory November 21 – ILS International Launch note in the principal amount of $101m. Bank Services Inc. successfully launched the of America Merrill Lynch served as lead EchoStar XVI satellite for EchoStar financial adviser to MDA for the acquisition. Corporation on an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from the Baikonur Ex-Im Bank Approves $461m ABS Financing Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Manufactured On November 19, the Export-Import Bank by Space Systems/Loral, Inc. based on its of the United States authorized two direct SS/L 1300 platform and fully leased to DISH loans totaling $461m for the export of three Network L.L.C., EchoStar XVI will provide satellites to Asia Broadcast Satellite DTH services in the United States from the Space Business Review Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong. Specifically, 61.5°W orbital location. one of the loans will provide $171.3m for the November 27 – China Great Wall Industry manufacturing by Space Systems/Loral, Corporation successfully launched the Inc. and the insuring of the ABS-2 satellite 12/SupremeSAT 1 satellite, jointly while the other loan will provide $289.7m for owned by China Satellite Communications the manufacturing by Boeing Satellite Co. Ltd. and SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd., on a Systems International, Inc., the launching launch vehicle. by Space Exploration Technologies Manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, Corporation and the insuring of two Chinasat 12/SupremeSat 1 carries 23 Ku- additional satellites. and 24 C-band transponders and will provide Iridium and NAV CANADA Joint Venture broadband and telecommunications services On November 19, Iridium Communications from China’s 81.5°E orbital slot. SupremeSAT Inc. (Iridium) and NAV CANADA announced 1 is the first satellite payload owned by an agreement to establish Aireon LLC SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka’s first (Aireon), a joint venture that will make it satellite operator. possible for air traffic management agencies November Launch Services Orders to track continuously aircraft anywhere on On November 26, EchoStar Corporation earth. By providing greater radar visibility (EchoStar) and Arianespace S.A. through receivers installed on Iridium’s NEXT announced an agreement for the launch of satellite constellation, Aireon will enable fuel multiple EchoStar satellites over a multi-year savings, reduce carbon emissions and period from the Guiana Space Center in promote flight safety. NAV CANADA will French Guiana. The agreement is designed BEIJING invest $150m in Aireon, comprising five to provide EchoStar with launch capacity and FRANKFURT installments through 2017, for a 51% stake in flexibility for its expanding satellite program. HONG KONG the joint venture. LONDON LOS ANGELES MUNICH To learn about Milbank’s Space Business Practice, or view previous issues of the Space Business Review, please visit www.milbank.com. NEW YORK The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Recipients of this publication should not take or refrain from taking any action based upon content included herein. If you do not wish SÃO PAULO to receive this newsletter, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line. ATTORNEY SINGAPORE ADVERTISING. Prior results do not guarantee similar results. TOKYO © 2012 - Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. WASHINGTON DC