Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the satellite manufacturer, was notified by component provider AEG of Germany that the traveling wave tubes (TWTs) in the satellite assembly may be susceptible to thermally induced fatigue, requiring several weeks for tube modification and additional testing prior to launch of the satellite.

Modifications to the TWTs on the Telstar 6 satellite, currently at the Proton launch base in Baikonur, will be undertaken at the site. Pending final confirmation from launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) and successful modification and re-testing of the TWTs, the company expects to launch Telstar 6 in late November.

"We believe it is prudent to stand down temporarily from the scheduled launch of Telstar 6 until we are certain that the satellite meets all specifications," stated Terry Hart, president, Loral Skynet. "This delay will not affect our ability to continue to meet commitments to our customers for satellite transmissions."

The satellites in Loral Skynet's current constellation, Telstar 4 and Telstar 5, are equipped with a different version of the traveling wave tubes and are operating normally.

Telstar 6, which carries a total of 52 transponders -- 24 at C-band and 28 at Ku-band -- will be one of the most sophisticated and powerful communications satellites available to broadcasters and program distributors in North America, covering the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and parts of Canada and Latin America.

The state-of-the-art Telstar 6 satellite will provide Loral Skynet's broadcasting, education and news gathering customers with the clearest, and most interference-free broadcast video and data communications transmissions available in the industry today.