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Maxar's SSL Highlights its U.S. Industry Leadership in Next-Generation Solar Electric PropulsionSSL's new high-power thruster increases power, flexibility, performance for commercial and government missions PALO ALTO, CA, Dec. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), and a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, recently demonstrated its next generation solar-electric propulsion system on two commercial missions to geostationary orbit (GEO). As a U.S. industry leader, SSL continues to develop commercially sustained high power spacecraft propulsion systems that provide increased power, flexibility and performance for future missions, backed by a long heritage of electric propulsion success. "Through careful and deliberate insertion of next-generation systems, SSL is driving forward the industry's most advanced electric propulsion capabilities," said Dario Zamarian, group president, SSL. "Our high-thrust systems bring another space-proven addition to our toolkit, with value for a broad range of government and commercial missions." Commercial Missions Using electric propulsion can reduce launch mass for large high-performance payloads and for longer missions by eliminating the need for bi-propellant tanks that can add hundreds or thousands of kilograms of mass to a spacecraft. For commercial satellites, electric propulsion helps reduce launch costs and enables the use of larger and more powerful payloads. Earlier this year the SPT-140 was demonstrated for the first time on a large communications satellite built for Telesat, one of the world's leading communications satellite operators. The Telstar 19 VANTAGE satellite was launched in July and is operating according to plan using the SPT-140 electric thrusters to maintain its precise position in its orbital slot, known as station-keeping. Proven Performance Advancing Technology SSL currently has four commercial satellites under construction that will also use the SPT-140 to reach their orbits, including one all-electric spacecraft. The company is also providing a high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis for a NASA mission called Psyche to explore what is believed to be an all metal asteroid. The electric propulsion system will be the driving force to carry the spacecraft and its scientific instruments to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Rounding out its accomplishments in solar electric propulsion, early next year SSL will enable a unique mission in conjunction with SpaceX and Spaceflight that will bring several payloads to orbit. An SSL high-throughput communications satellite equipped with SSL's next-generation propulsion system will carry a ride along payload beyond geostationary orbit before reaching the orbital slot where it will operate. About SSL About Maxar Technologies Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this release. As a result, although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk factors and other disclosures about the Company and its business included in the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov or on the Company's website at www.maxar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such forward-looking statements are based upon data available as of the date of this release or other specified date and speak only as of such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. Contact View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maxars-ssl-highlights-its-us-industry-leadership-in-next-generation-solar-electric-propulsion-300768397.html SOURCE Maxar Technologies Ltd. |