Boeing Satellite Systems is a major business unit of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. It brings together Boeing satellite operations with that of Hughes Electronics' Space and Communications division.
History
In 1948 Howard Hughes' Hughes Aircraft Company formed the Aerospace Group within the company, divided into:
- Hughes Space and Communications Group
- Hughes Space Systems Division
In 1953 the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) was formed, and Hughes Aircraft reformed as a subsidiary of the foundation. The charity status of the foundation allowed Hughes Aircraft to avoid taxes on its huge income. In 1961 the two Aerospace Group divisions were reformed as Hughes Space and Communications Company.
Hughes Space and Communications launched the first geosynchronous communications satellite, Syncom, in 1963.
In 1976 Howard Hughes died at the age of 71, leaving no will. In 1984 the Delaware Court of Chancery appointed eight trustees of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, who decided to sell Hughes Aircraft to General Motors for $5bn — this transaction was completed in 1985. GM merged Hughes Aircraft with its Delco Electronics division to form Hughes Electronics (or GM Hughes Electronics/GMHE). This group thus consisted of:
- Hughes Aircraft
- Delco Electronics
- Hughes Space and Communications
- Hughes Network Systems
- and from August 1992 General Dynamics' Missile Systems business.
In 1995 Hughes Space and Communications became the world's biggest supplier of commerical satellites. In 1997 GM transferred Delco Electronics from Hughes Electronics to its Delphi Automotive Systems and later in the year sold the defense operations of Hughes Electronics (Hughes Aircraft and missile business) to Raytheon.
Hughes Space and Communications remained independent until 2000, when it was purchased by Boeing and became Boeing Satellite Systems.
Current operations
Hughes added the following to Boeing's portfolio:
In addition to Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' other assets, e.g. Delta launch vehicles, GPS satellites, Rocketdyne and Rockwell's space operations Hughes Space and Communications gave Boeing an impressive range of products for design, manufacture, launch and support of satellites.
See also
External links
