SSL
SSL (Space Systems Loral) was one of the world's premier GEO commercial communications satellite manufacturers, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, founded in 1957.
- Founded
- 1957
- Headquarters
- Palo Alto, United States
- Stage
- Acquired
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of Maxar
Quick Facts
About SSL
SSL (Space Systems Loral) was one of the world's premier GEO commercial communications satellite manufacturers, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, founded in 1957. The company built the highly successful 1300 bus platform — a large GEO satellite platform that pioneered all-electric propulsion (replacing chemical apogee kick motors with ion thrusters for orbit raising, dramatically reducing satellite mass and launch cost while increasing orbit-raising time). SSL built 100+ satellites for major operators including SES, Intelsat, and DirecTV.
The company was acquired by Maxar Technologies (formerly MDA) and the combined entity operates as Maxar Space Systems. The all-electric 1300 platform introduced an industry paradigm shift: LaunchStation-class electric propulsion allowed large GEO satellites to launch on smaller vehicles, fundamentally changing satellite economics.
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- Verification
- Verified 2026-09-05
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Frequently asked about SSL
Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.
- When was SSL founded?
- SSL was founded in 1957 in United States.
- Where is SSL headquartered?
- SSL is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.
- What does SSL do?
- SSL (Space Systems Loral) was one of the world's premier GEO commercial communications satellite manufacturers, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, founded in 1957. The company built the highly successful 1300 bus platform — a large GEO satellite platform that pioneered all-electric propulsion (replacing chemical a…
- Was SSL acquired?
- SSL has been acquired by Maxar.
- What sector does SSL operate in?
- SSL works in satellite manufacturing, Telecommunications and Satellite operators.
Sources
The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.
- Official website (www.maxar.com)
- Company LinkedIn page
- Merged duplicate entry ssl-mda · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-05
Data Accuracy Notice: Information about SSL is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.