The Galaxy III-R is used to provide video and telecommunications services throughout the United States. The satellite's Ku-band capacity can also be switched to provide coverage of Latin America. The satellite is a version of the three-axis, body-stabilized Hughes 601 model built by Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc., formerly Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC) in El Segundo, Calif. It was launched on Dec. 14, 1995, from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Galaxy III-R replaced the smaller, C-band-only Galaxy III spacecraft, a Hughes 376 model.