In February 2005 satellite operator PanAmSat ordered a new Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite that will deliver 10kW of power for over a 15-year lifetime with Space Systems/Loral (SS/L).

The spacecraft is a version of SS/L’s space-proven SSL-1300 satellite platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. The geostationary SSL-1300 has a designed service life of 15 years and maintains station-keeping and orbital stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems. The satellite a C- and Ku-band satellite with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. A system of high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries provides uninterrupted electrical power.

In February 2007, after the acquisition of PanAmSat, satellite operator Intelsat officially named the satellite Galaxy-16.

Galaxy-16 was successfully launched on August 16^th, 2006 on a Zenit-3SL launcher operated by launch operator Sea Launch from the Odyssey launch platform.