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Lockheed Martin-Built NSS-7 Satellite Launched Successfully on Ariane 4

SUNNYVALE, CA, April 16th, 2002 -- The NSS-7 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), was successfully launched today from Kourou, French Guiana. Lift-off occurred at 4:02 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) aboard an Ariane 4 launch vehicle provided by Arianespace of Evry, France. Initial contact with the satellite, called acquisition of signal, was confirmed at 5:08 p.m. PDT from the Lockheed Martin satellite tracking station in Uralla, Australia. NSS-7 is a hybrid Ku- and C-band telecommunications satellite providing fixed satellite services, including video distribution, Internet access, corporate business networking and fixed services such as telephony and data. Based on an enhanced version of Lockheed Martin's A2100AX satellite bus, this 72 transponder satellite will operate at 338.5° East longitude over the Atlantic Ocean, providing coverage to Europe, Africa and the Americas where it will replace the Lockheed Martin built NSS-K and NSS-803 satellites.

"We are extremely pleased with today's successful launch of the NSS-7 spacecraft, which will deliver a wide range of communications services throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas," said Ted Gavrilis, president of Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. "Our team's accomplishment represents a source of genuine pride for our company, and it is a testimony to our long heritage of mission success."

NSS-7's expansive coverage is achieved through 11 high-powered beams, which are focused on key developed and emerging markets. The extensive switching capability between beams and between frequency bands offers enhanced connectivity between regions and makes it possible to tailor capacity to match current Internet and video traffic patterns in the Atlantic Ocean Region. NSS-7's high downlink power levels also will enable the use of smaller, more efficient receive systems for the delivery of Internet and data services. NSS-7 was designed and built by LMCSS for New Skies Satellites N.V.

Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems markets, designs and builds geostationary and non-geostationary telecommunications and remote sensing satellites for customers worldwide. LMCSS is an operating unit of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, one of the core business areas of the Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT). Lockheed Martin has a 41-year heritage of building reliable spacecraft for commercial and military customers, having launched more than 875 spacecraft and clocking nearly 1,500 years of on-orbit performance experience.

Steve Tatum (408) 742-7531
Pager: (888) 926-2912
stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com