THAICOM 6 Updates its Progress

June 14, 2012

THAICOM Public Company Limited announced that its THAICOM 6 program has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR), and that all plans are moving forward smoothly following the manufacturing schedule set out by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the U.S.A.

The Critical Design Review is a major milestone in the program, and includes a detailed review of the technical designs of all subsystems of the satellite. The success of this design review ensures that the satellite's design complies with all requirements, and establishes a reference timeline for all other activities related to the satellite's construction and launch.

“THAICOM's engineering team has been working closely with Orbital Sciences in the review and analysis of the design of the satellite’s subsystems in all phases of the technical processes. After the completion of the CDR, Orbital Sciences will start construction of THAICOM 6 by assembling all the made-to-order parts of the satellite. When completed, the satellite will be tested at Orbital Sciences’ manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia, U.S.A. Throughout this process, additional tests will be performed on a regularly scheduled basis,” said Paiboon Panuwattanawong, Chief Technical Officer, THAICOM Public Company Limited.

THAICOM 6 is a medium size Star 2.3 model satellite currently under construction by Orbital Sciences Corporation, U.S.A. The satellite will have 26 transponders, including 18 C-band and 8 Ku-band transponders. The Company plans to launch THAICOM 6 into the 78.5 degrees East orbital slot in mid 2013, using the Falcon 9 rocket from Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (Space X), U.S.A.