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                                                                                  DA 98-969
Before the
                                      Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554



In the Matter of                             )
                                             )
PanAmSat Corporation                 )              File No.       SRD-0524
                                             )
Emergency Request for Temporary              )
Authority to Operate Galaxy VI               )
at the 99o W.L. Orbital Location             )


Order
                       
Adopted May 20, 1998                                Released:  May 20, 1998

       By the Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division, International Bureau:

       1.      By this Order, PanAmSat Corporation is granted special temporary authority
("STA") to relocate its Galaxy VI satellite from its assigned orbital location at 74o W.L. to the
99o W.L. orbital location.  PanAmSat requests such authority for a period of 180 days from
the time Galaxy VI begins operations from the new location.  Galaxy IV has suffered a
technical failure which has forced PanAmSat to deactivate its communications payload.  Grant
of this STA will restore service to customers in the event that Galaxy IV is not able to
resume normal operations.

       2.      In its request, PanAmSat states that on the evening of May 19, 1998, Galaxy
IV experienced a failure of its on board spacecraft control processor which is responsible for
pointing the satellite relative to the earth.  This failure caused the satellite to rotate and lose
the fixed orientation that is essential to functional operation.  PanAmSat states that its
attempts to correct this failure were unsuccessful and as a result it deactivated the
communications payload to conserve power.

       3.      PanAmSat proposes to drift its Galaxy VI spacecraft from its authorized orbit
location of 74o W.L. to the 99o W.L. position where it will resume operations.  Prior to the
drift, Galaxy VI customers will be off-loaded.  During the drift, which PanAmSat states will
take about one week, Galaxy VI will not provide any communication services.  PanAmSat
states that Galaxy VI will be able to provide the services formerly provided by Galaxy IV.  It
further asserts that no risk of interference to adjacent satellites is anticipated since Galaxy VI
has the same frequency and polarization plan as Galaxy IV and operates at power levels
lower than those used on Galaxy IV.

       4.      We find it in the public interest to grant PanAmSat's request.  The failure of
the Galaxy IV spacecraft has caused substantial disruption to its customers' communication
services and PanAmSat is in need of immediate substitute capacity.  Commission policy
strongly favors continuity of service and prompt reestablishment of service where capacity is
lost due to an unanticipated equipment failure.  The circumstances presented here are clearly
extraordinary and are beyond the control of the licensee.  Therefore, grant of this STA is
warranted.
           

Ordering Clauses

       5.      Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that special temporary authority IS GRANTED
to PanAmSat Corporation to relocate the Galaxy VI spacecraft to the 99o W.L. orbit location
and operate from that location for a period of 180 days.  

       6.      This special temporary authority will automatically expire if and when
PanAmSat is able to restore operation of the Galaxy IV spacecraft.

       7.      This authorization is subject to the following conditions:

               (a)    Galaxy VI shall not provide communication services while it drifts from
                      74o W.L. to the 99o W.L. orbit location;

               (b)    Telemetry, tracking and command operations for Galaxy VI shall be
                      coordinated and must not cause harmful interference to other satellites;
                      and

               (c)    The operating parameters of Galaxy VI at 99o W.L. shall not exceed the
                      parameters authorized for the operation of Galaxy IV and must be
                      consistent with any coordination agreements regarding the operation of
                      Galaxy IV at 99o W.L.

       8.      This Order is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's rules on
delegations of authority, 47 C.F.R.  0.261, and is effective on release.


                                             FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                                             Thomas S. Tycz
                                             Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division
                                             International Bureau