TELSTAR 5 IN ORBIT

Telstar 5, a new satellite built by Space Systems/Loral, was launched on a Russian Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Saturday, May 24, 1997. The satellite carries 24 36MHz C-band transponders, 24 27 MHz Ku-band transponders and four 54 MHz Ku-band transponders. At Ku-band, the power amplifiers are 100 watt TWTAs (traveling wave tube amplifiers) and at C-band they are 20 watt SSPAs (solid state power amplifiers). While the transponder configuration is similar to that of Telstar 4 (formerly Telstar 402R), transponder power has been increased.

The satellite occupies a geosynchronous orbital position at 97 degrees West Longitude, the former location of Telstar 401 which was lost from service earlier this year. Telstar 302 which was moved into this position shortly after the failure of Telstar 401, has been shut down and allowed to drift to 97.1 degrees West Longitude to make room for Telstar 5.

Loral Skynet has replaced AT&T Skynet as the management company for the Telstar geosynchronous satellites. Occasional bookings may be ordered from the Loral Skynet service center in Hawley at (800) 242-2422. Loral Skynet will begin taking orders for Telstar 5 beginning June 1, 1997 for service which is scheduled to begin on July 1, 1997. Booking windows for Telstar 5 are:

        OPENING DATE                    PERIOD    OF   TIME
          06/01/97                      07/01/97 - 12/31/97
          10/01/97                      01/01/98 - 04/30/98
          03/01/98                      05/01/98 - 08/31/98
          07/01/98                      09/01/98 - 12/31/98

Standard rate charges for 15 minute increments are $185 for Ku-band and $175 for C-band.

Four additional highpower satellites, Telstar 6,7,8 & 9, are in the planning or construction stages. Telstar 6 is expected to be launched in late 1998 and Telstar 7 is expected to be launched in early 1999.