Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) was awarded a contract to deliver a high-power satellite to ProtoStar Ltd., SS/L announced Jan. 5.

SS/L will modify the previously built ChinaSat-8 satellite for ProtoStar. The new spacecraft, dubbed ProtoStar-1, is scheduled to be launched in 2008. SS/L will tailor the spacecraft to ProtoStar’s requirements to target direct-to-home operators in the Asian market as well as other broadband communication needs in the region.

ProtoStar acquired the satellite from China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corp. and China National Postal and Telecommunications Appliances Corp. in a 2006 agreement.