* Astronomy

Mobile Satellite Ventures LP and joint venture partner Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) announced today that MSV has contracted with Sea Launch Company, LLC, for the launch in 2010 of one of two high-powered, next-generation satellites, designed to provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous broadband wireless coverage of North and Central America to consumer electronic devices.

This launch will complete the space segment of MSVs new integrated satellite-terrestrial communications network. We have teamed with a world-class provider who combined a fair price and program flexibility, allowing us to deliver ahead of our regulatory milestones - Alexander H. Good, MSV Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.  

MSV is further demonstrating the industrys confidence in our team and our system. This commitment represents a significant milestone for us - Rob Peckham, President and General Manager of Sea Launch.  

Sea Launch plans to launch the MSV spacecraft on a Zenit-3SL vehicle from a site on the Equator near the island of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean.

Our new spacecraft will usher in a new era in integrated satellite-terrestrial communications where consumers throughout North America can enjoy broadband services at lower costs per bit with the flexibility to support a range of custom IP applications - Alexander H. Good.

The two new MSV satellites, under construction by The Boeing Company, will operate in geostationary orbit over North America from 101 degrees and 107.3 degrees west longitude.  The satellites feature 22-meter diameter, elliptical mesh reflectors that will support L-band communication with conventional handsets through a network based on MSVs patented ancillary terrestrial component technology.

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