Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (Nasdaq:LORL), has announced that Nimiq 5, a DTH television satellite built for Telesat, is performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite's solar array deployed on schedule early Friday morning following its successful launch from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle. Over the weekend, Nimiq 5's main thruster fired twice in order to begin maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

Nimiq 5 has a total of 32 high-powered Ku-band transponders and is designed to deliver a variety of HD and specialty DTH television services. EchoStar Corporation (SATS) has committed to use the entire available Nimiq 5 payload for the anticipated 15-year life of the satellite and expects to provide capacity to its customer, DISH Network L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation, for the delivery of DTH television services. Nimiq 5 is based on SS/L's 1300 space-proven platform, which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. When Nimiq 5 reaches its geostationary orbital slot at 72.7 degrees West, Space Systems/Loral will have 58 GEO satellites on orbit.