Space Systems/Loral Celebrates Fifty Years of Satellite Innovation

Jimmy Dean

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Apr 13, 2006
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Southern Cali
Industry Pioneer Marks Milestone, Continues to Lead in Providing High-Power Commercial Satellites, Helping Operators Meet Business Objectives

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications , today announced that it is celebrating its 50-year anniversary. Founded in 1957, the company was a pioneer in communications satellites and today leads the industry in providing high-power commercial spacecraft to help satellite operators and service providers meet their business objectives.

"Over the past 50 years, the world has come to depend on satellites for communications, entertainment and national security," said John Celli, president and chief operating officer of Space Systems/Loral. "We are very proud of our pioneering role in the industry and the contributions this company has made to advancing the world's ability to communicate. Our 50 years of success can be attributed to our legacy of exceptional people with a passion for excellence and an unwavering commitment to our customers' success."

The company was founded as the Western Development Laboratories division of Philco Corporation in 1957 and started construction of the first building on its current campus in Palo Alto, California that same year. It became Philco-Ford in 1966, having been purchased by Ford Motor Company in 1961, and later was renamed Aeronutronic Ford and finally Ford Aerospace. The latter's space division took the name Space Systems/Loral when it was acquired in 1990 by Loral Space & Communications and a consortium of international partners. In 1997, Loral became the sole owner of SS/L, and today it remains SS/L's parent company.

Space Systems/Loral (at that time Philco) launched its first communications satellite, Courier 1B, in 1960. Courier was the world's first active repeater satellite, and to highlight this new technology, it was used to transmit a message from President Eisenhower to the United Nations.

Today, Space Systems/Loral builds satellites for a broad range of companies around the world, including well-known direct-to-user service providers such as DIRECTV, DISH Network, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, XM Satellite Radio, and WildBlue Communications, Inc. The company now has close to 2,200 employees and a campus of more than 25 buildings in Palo Alto, California.

Space Systems/Loral Celebrates Fifty Years of Satellite Innovation: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
 
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