TerreStar Reaches a Technical Milestone, Faces Launch Delay

TerreStar, which plans to build, own and operate North America’s first 4G integrated mobile satellite and terrestrial communications network, announced a technical milestone. Its satellite TerreStar –1 (TS-1) has successfully completed its Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing, and High Power and Passive Intermodulation (PIM) testing of the flight model S Band feed array for its 2 GHz mobile satellite service satellite. TS-1 is now in the final demonstration phase, followed by final assembly and performance testing.

TS-1, which is under construction by Space Systems/Loral, Inc (SS/L) in Palo Alto, California, is expected to be the largest and most powerful commercial satellite following its planned launch.

However, TerreStar noted that its TS-1 reflector, which was in an advanced state of completion, recently sustained damage during manufacturing at Harris Corporation, the reflector subcontractor. The resulting delay in delivery of the reflector will impact TS-1’s flight schedule. TerreStar expects that launch of TS-1 may be postponed from fourth quarter 2008 to second quarter 2009.http://www.terrestarcorp.com