Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced Dec. 30 that it had been awarded a contract to build an A2100 geosynchronous satellite for an undisclosed customer, marking the fifth new commercial satellite order received by its Commercial Space Systems business during 2003. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Other A2100 contracts awarded last year include an order from EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] in September to build its next satellite for the DISH Network. In April, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract by Japan’s JSAT Corp. to build its latest geostationary telecommunications satellite. In June, SES Astra awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to build two satellites, designated 1KR and 1L, which will provide distribution of direct-to-home broadcast services across Europe.