PanAmSat has announced it will place a high-powered Ku-band satellite into geosynchronous orbit in 2007 to provide a variety of services including satellite newsgathering transmission in the United States.
The company contracted with Sea Launch to lift the Horizon-2 satellite into orbit aboard a Zenit-3SLB vehicle from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The 5000lb Horizon-2 is a STAR-2 spacecraft to be built by Orbital Sciences in Dulles, VA. When in orbit, the satellite will be located at 74 degrees West Longitude.
In addition to providing broadcasters with SNG service, the satellite will be support services including digital video, high definition television, IP-based content distribution networks and broadband Internet services.
Horizons-2 is a joint venture between PanAmSat and JSAT. Last month, PanAmSat and Intelsat signed a definitive merger agreement.
For more information, visit www.panamsat.com and www.jsat.net/en.
