Orbital Sciences Corp. received a contract from Intelsat to manufacture the Intelsat-15 communications satellite, Orbital announced May 1. The satellite, scheduled for launch in early 2009, will be based on Orbital’s Star 2 platform and carry 22 Ku-band transponders.

Intelsat also confirmed a contract to complete the Intelsat-16 spacecraft (formerly PAS-11R), which will serve as a ground spare for Intelsat-11.

This is the second order for Orbital’s Star platform in 2007. In March, Optus Networks of Australia ordered its third satellite from Orbital, Optus D3.

"With two recent new orders from repeat customers… Orbital’s commercial satellite business has begun 2007 with very strong momentum," Carl Marchetto, general manager of Orbital’s Space Systems Group, said in a statement.