<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000022698
<NAME>                        COMSAT CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JUN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                   1.00                    1.00
<CASH>                                          20,385                  20,385
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  278,019                 278,019
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     38,761                  38,761
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               377,538                 377,538
<PP&E>                                       2,820,671               2,820,671
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,260,423               1,260,423
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,412,709               2,412,709
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          279,983                 279,983
<BONDS>                                        660,068                 660,068
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       330,703                 330,703
<OTHER-SE>                                     515,683                 515,683
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,412,709               2,412,709
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               707,776                 229,804
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  431,051                 133,056
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               202,038                  70,500
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              31,932                  12,616
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 40,489                  13,855
<INCOME-TAX>                                    20,343                   8,818
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,146                   5,037
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,146                   5,037
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.41                    0.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.41                    0.10
        

</TABLE>