Sirius FM-5 (Radiosat 5) Set To Sound Off

Sirius FM-5 satellite logo Following the delivery, on May 22nd, of the Proton M booster rocket designated for the SIRIUS FM-5 launch, the aforementioned spacecraft was delivered to the Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 26th.

After passing through customs, the spacecraft was transferred to building 92A-50 for testing and integration. The satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral on the 1300 bus for SIRIUS XM Radio, is scheduled to be the fifth Proton launch of 2009 and the third ILS mission of the year. SIRIUS FM-5 will be inserted into a geostationary orbit and will supplement the existing fleet of SIRIUS satellites.

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) announced in June 2006 that it has been chosen by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. to build Sirius FM-5, a powerful new geostationary satellite for use in its satellite radio service. Sirius FM-5 will carry an X-band uplink and S-band downlink payload. The satellite will be one of the most powerful ever constructed, with end-of-life power capability at more than 20 kilowatts. Sirius FM-5 is based on SS/L's flight proven and reliable LS-1300 platform and will have a specified service life of 15 years. It will carry a range of technologies, including a 9-meter unfurlable reflector, which will allow for highly-concentrated transmissions to small, advanced devices.

As part of its commitment to Sirius, Loral has agreed to provide to Sirius a vendor financing facility of up to $100 million. The satellite will supplement from its geostationary position the three other Sirius satellites in highly elliptical orbits, all manufactured by SS/L.