<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001029850 <NAME> LORAL ORION, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 57,005 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,323 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 126,780 <PP&E> 297,515 <DEPRECIATION> (25,876) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,422,332 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 54,509 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 424,942 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,422,332 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,186 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 113,072 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 41,106 <LOSS-PROVISION> 800 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 40,939 <INCOME-PRETAX> (93,992) <INCOME-TAX> 4,932 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (89,060) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (89,060) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0