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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of August 2000
MEXICAN SATELLITES, INC.
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(SATELITES MEXICANOS, S.A. DE C.V.)
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(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)
Blvd. Manuel Avila Camacho 40 -
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec
11000 Mexico, D.F.
Mexico
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F X Form 40-F_____
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(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.)
Yes____ No X
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Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. ("Satmex") announced on August 30, 2000
that its Solidaridad 1 satellite has ceased operation and is now considered
irretrievably lost. The loss was caused by the failure of the back-up control
processor on board the satellite. Solidaridad 1, which was built by Hughes Space
and Communications and launched in 1994, experienced a failure of its primary
control processor in April 1999, and the satellite had been operating on its
back-up processor since that time.
Immediately following the failure of the back-up processor on Sunday,
August 27, 2000, Satmex began migrating Solidaridad 1's customers to other
Satmex satellites or to satellites operated by Loral Skynet, which, like Satmex,
is a member of the Loral Global Alliance. These alternative satellites have
sufficient capacity to provide for all Solidaridad 1 customers.
Solidaridad 1 was insured for U.S. $250 million, and Satmex intends to
apply the insurance proceeds towards the construction and launch of a
replacement satellite as well as for debt service.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.
By: /s/ Cynthia M. Pelini
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Name: Cynthia M. Pelini
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: August 30, 2000
