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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                                                               SENIOR MANAGEMENT

                                  NON-QUALIFIED
                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                                      UNDER

                        LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS INC.
                            2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

            THIS AGREEMENT, made as of this _____ day of ________, ____ (the
"Grant Date"), by and between Loral Space & Communications Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and _______________ (the "Optionee").

            WHEREAS, the Optionee is employed by or providing services to the
Company or an Affiliate in a key capacity, and the Company desires to have
Optionee remain in such employment or service and to afford Optionee the
opportunity to acquire, or enlarge, Optionee's stock ownership of the Company's
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Stock"), so that Optionee may have
a direct proprietary interest in the Company's success;

            WHEREAS, all capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall
have the same meaning as set forth in Company's 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan").

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

              1. GRANT OF OPTION.

                  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and
      in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Optionee, during the period
      commencing on the Grant Date and ending on the date that is seven years
      from the Grant Date (the "Option Period"), the right and option (the right
      to purchase any one share of Stock hereunder being an "Option") to
      purchase from the Company, at an exercise price of [$____] per share (the
      "Option Price"), an aggregate of [______] shares of Stock (the "Share
      Number"). The Options are not intended to be "incentive stock options", as
      defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
      [NOTE: SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE
      CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED ("SECTION 409A"), THE OPTIONS SHALL HAVE A PER
      SHARE EXERCISE PRICE OF $19.00 (THE "TARGET EXERCISE PRICE"). SECTION
      409A, PLACES CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON STOCK OPTIONS THAT HAVE A PER SHARE
      EXERCISE PRICE LESS THAN THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A SHARE OF THE
      UNDERLYING STOCK AT THE TIME OF GRANT. IF THE TARGET EXERCISE PRICE IS
      LESS THAN THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A SHARE OF STOCK ON THE GRANT DATE (THE
      "GRANT DATE VALUE"), THE OPTIONS SHALL HAVE AN OPTION PRICE EQUAL TO THE
      GRANT DATE VALUE RATHER THAN THE TARGET EXERCISE PRICE.]

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[NOTE: IF THE TARGET EXERCISE PRICE IS LESS THAN THE GRANT DATE VALUE, THE
COMPANY SHALL ESTABLISH A DEFERRED COMPENSATION BOOKKEEPING ACCOUNT FOR THE
OPTIONEE AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SECTION IN THIS OPTION AGREEMENT.]

              2. [DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNT. As of the Grant Date, the
Company shall establish a deferred compensation bookkeeping account for the
Optionee (the "Deferred Compensation Account") and shall credit to the Deferred
Compensation Account a dollar amount equal to (A) the difference between the
Option Price and $19.00 (the "Target Exercise Price"), multiplied by (B) the
Share Number. The Deferred Compensation Account shall become vested in the same
proportion as the Options vest and becomes exercisable, including any
accelerated vesting upon (A) a termination of the Optionee's employment or
service by the Company or an Affiliate without Cause, (B) a termination of the
Optionee's employment or service with the Company and all Affiliates by the
Optionee for Good Reason, (C) a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), (D)
a New Skynet Sale Event (as defined in the Plan), but only to the extent that
the Optionee is an employee or service provider of New Skynet, or (E) a New SS/L
Sale Event (as defined in the Plan), but only to the extent that the Optionee is
an employee or service provider of New SS/L.

                  (a) The vested portion of the Deferred Compensation Account
      shall be distributed to the Optionee upon the earlier to occur of (i) a
      termination of the Optionee's employment or service with the Company and
      all Affiliates, (ii) a Change in Control, (iii) a New Skynet Sale Event,
      but only to the extent that the Optionee is an employee or service
      provider of New Skynet, (iv) a New SS/L Sale Event, but only to the extent
      that the Optionee is an employee or service provider of New SS/L, and (v)
      the date which is the seventh anniversary of the Grant Date; provided,
      however, that in the event the Optionee is determined to be a "specified
      person," as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
      as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
      including Treasury Notice 2005-1 ("Notice 2005-1") ("Section 409A"), as of
      the date of the Optionee's termination of employment or service, any
      distribution of the Deferred Compensation Account scheduled to be made
      upon such termination shall be delayed for six months or such other period
      as required to comply with Section 409A; and further provided, however,
      that there shall be no distribution upon a Change in Control, a New Skynet
      Sale Event or a New SS/L Sale Event unless such event also constitutes a
      "Change in Control Event" with respect to the Optionee under Notice 2005-1
      or such distribution is otherwise an allowable distribution under Section
      409A.

                  (b) Amounts in the Deferred Compensation Account shall be
      subject to forfeiture upon termination of the Optionee's employment with
      the Company to the same extent as the Option is subject to forfeiture
      pursuant to Section 4 herein.

                  (c) Except as provided below, the value of the Deferred
      Compensation Account shall not be credited with interest or be subject to
      any rate of return. Upon any exercise of all or a portion of the Options,
      the corresponding portion of the Deferred Compensation Account shall
      automatically be converted into an interest-

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      bearing account from the date of such exercise through the date of
      distribution. For example, if 50% of the Options are exercised, 50% of the
      Deferred Compensation Account shall be converted into an interest-bearing
      account. Once converted, the amounts credited to this interest-bearing
      Deferred Compensation Account shall receive a rate of return equal to the
      highest rate of return then available to the Company in an
      interest-bearing account. To the extent possible, the Company will seek to
      avoid or, if not avoidable, to minimize any administrative expense
      incurred in maintaining the interest-bearing Deferred Compensation
      Account. However, the balance in the interest-bearing Deferred
      Compensation Account attributable to the rate of return on the
      interest-bearing Deferred Compensation Account shall be reduced, but not
      below the principal amount, by any administrative expense incurred by the
      Company in maintaining the interest-bearing Deferred Compensation Account.

                  (d) While all or a portion of the Options remain unexercised
      and outstanding, the corresponding portion of the Deferred Compensation
      Account shall be linked to the value of the Stock as follows. To the
      extent the value of the Stock declines to a level between the Option Price
      and the Target Exercise Price (the "Spread Value Zone"), the corresponding
      portion of the Deferred Compensation Account shall also decline in the
      same percentage as the Stock declines as measured against the Target
      Exercise Price and the value of the corresponding portion of the Deferred
      Compensation Account shall track the percentage increase or decrease in
      the value of the Stock while its value remains in the Spread Value Zone
      such that if the value of the Stock declines to the Target Exercise Price
      or below, the value of the corresponding portion of the Deferred
      Compensation Account shall decline to zero and if the value of the Stock
      rebounds to the Option Price, the corresponding portion of the Deferred
      Compensation Account shall regain its proportional full value. To the
      extent the Stock rises above the Option Price the corresponding portion of
      the Deferred Compensation Account shall not rise above its proportional
      full value.

                  (e) The amounts credited to the Deferred Compensation Account
      will be subject to all applicable legally required tax withholding as
      determined by the Company, unless such determination is unreasonable.

                  (f) It is intended that this Agreement be structured so as to
      avoid any tax under Section 409A(a)(B). To the extent that the Optionee
      has reason to believe that the Deferred Compensation Account will subject
      the Optionee to a tax under Section 409A(a)(B), the Optionee may request
      that this Agreement be restructured to avoid any such tax. To the extent
      the Optionee requests any such restructuring, the Company agrees to enter
      into good faith negotiations with the Optionee to accommodate such
      restructuring to the extent possible so as to avoid any such tax.

                  (g) In no event shall this Agreement and any restructuring
      thereof result in the Company incurring any cost or expense to a greater
      extent than the Company would have incurred had the Option been granted
      with an Option Price equal to the Target Exercise Price.]

              3. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

                  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and
      provided the Optionee's employment continues, the Options shall vest and
      become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule:

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                    (i) one-fourth of the Options shall vest and become
            exercisable on the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date;

                    (ii) an additional one-fourth of the Options shall vest and
            become exercisable on the two-year anniversary of the Effective
            Date;

                    (iii) an additional one-fourth of the Options shall vest and
            become exercisable on the three-year anniversary of the Effective
            Date; and

                    (iv) the remainder of the Options shall vest and become
            exercisable on the four-year anniversary of the Effective Date (each
            such anniversary date shall hereafter be referred to as a "Vesting
            Date" and the period between the date hereof and the first Vesting
            Date and the subsequent periods between Vesting Dates shall
            hereafter be referred to as "Vesting Periods").

                  (b) The Options shall vest only as to full shares of Stock
      rounded down to the nearest full share during the first three vesting
      dates and all fractions shall be amalgamated and become exercisable on the
      last vesting date. Except as otherwise stated in this Agreement, the
      Options shall expire on the seven-year anniversary of the Effective Date.

              4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                  (a) If the Optionee's employment or service with the Company
      and all Affiliates is terminated for Cause, all Options [and the full
      value of the Deferred Compensation Account] (whether vested or not) shall
      immediately expire.

                  (b) If the Optionee resigns from employment or service with
      the Company and all Affiliates other than for "Good Reason," all unvested
      Options [and the unvested portion of the Deferred Compensation Account]
      shall expire and all vested Options shall remain exercisable for the
      shorter of (i) three months following the date of termination or (ii) the
      remainder of the Option Period.

                  (c) If the Optionee's employment or service with the Company
      and all Affiliates is terminated by the Company or an Affiliate other than
      for Cause or the Optionee resigns for "Good Reason" during the time that
      the Optionee's employment with the Company is subject to an employment
      agreement between the Optionee and the Company and such employment
      agreement so provides, all unvested Options [and the unvested portion of
      the Deferred Compensation Account] shall vest immediately. If the
      Optionee's employment with the Company and all Affiliates is terminated by
      the Company or an Affiliate other than for Cause or the Optionee resigns
      for "Good Reason" during the time that the Optionee's employment with the
      Company is no longer subject to an employment agreement between the
      Optionee and the Company and such employment is on an "at-will" basis, the
      unvested Options that are scheduled to vest on the next Vesting Date
      immediately following such termination date [and the corresponding portion
      of the Deferred Compensation Account] shall vest on a pro rata basis where
      the number of Options subject to pro rata vesting is equal to the number
      of Options subject to vesting on such Vesting Date multiplied by a
      fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the number of days the
      Optionee was employed during the applicable Vesting Period and the
      denominator of which shall be equal to 365 [(the "Pro Rata Fraction"), and
      the portion of
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      the Deferred Compensation Account subject to pro rata vesting is that
      portion subject to vesting on such Vesting Date multiplied by the Pro Rata
      Fraction] and all other unvested Options [and the unvested portion of the
      Deferred Compensation Account] remaining at the time of such termination
      after application of such pro rata vesting shall expire. In the event that
      the Optionee's employment with the Company and all Affiliates is
      terminated by the Company or an Affiliate other than for Cause or the
      Optionee resigns for "Good Reason" (regardless of whether the Optionee's
      employment is then subject to an employment agreement), all vested Options
      (including those that vest upon such termination) shall remain exercisable
      for the shorter of (i) the Post Termination Exercise Period (as defined
      below) or (ii) the remainder of the Option Period. The Post Termination
      Exercise Period shall mean (x) the period that is two years following the
      date of termination, if the termination occurs prior to the third
      anniversary of the Grant Date, (y) the period that is one year following
      the date of termination, if the termination occurs on or following the
      third anniversary of the Grant Date but prior to the fifth anniversary of
      the Grant Date, or (z) the period that is three months following the date
      of termination, if the termination occurs on or following the fifth
      anniversary of the Grant Date; provided, however, that if the Optionee's
      employment is terminated on account of death or Disability, the Post
      Termination Exercise Period shall not be shorter than one year following
      the date of the Optionee's termination of employment.

                  (d) If the Optionee's employment with the Company and all
      Affiliates terminates on account of the Optionee's death or Disability all
      unvested Options [and the unvested portion of the Deferred Compensation
      Account] shall immediately expire and all vested Options will remain
      exercisable for the shorter of (i) the Post Termination Exercise Period or
      (ii) the Option Period.

                  (e) For purposes of clarification, neither a New FSS Sale
      Event nor a New SS/L Sale Event, shall in and of itself, be considered a
      termination of the Optionee's employment with the Company and all
      Affiliates without Cause or an event constituting "Good Reason."

              5. METHOD OF EXERCISING OPTION.

                  (a) Options which have become exercisable may be exercised by
      delivery of written notice of exercise to the Committee accompanied by
      payment of the Option Price. Payment for shares of Stock acquired pursuant
      to Options shall be made in full, upon exercise of the Options in
      immediately available funds in United States dollars, by certified or bank
      cashier's check or, in the discretion of the Committee, (i) by surrender
      to the Company of Mature Shares held by the Participant; (ii) by
      delivering to the Committee a copy of irrevocable instructions to a
      stockbroker to deliver promptly to the Company an amount of sale or loan
      proceeds sufficient to pay the aggregate Option exercise price; (iii)
      through a net exercise of the Options whereby the Participant instructs
      the Company to withhold that number of shares of Stock having a fair
      market value equal to the aggregate Option Price of the Options being
      exercised and deliver to the Participant the remainder of the shares
      subject to exercise or (iv) by any other means approved by the Committee.
      For purposes of this paragraph, the term "Mature Shares" shall mean shares
      of Stock for which the Optionee has good title, free and clear of all
      liens and encumbrances, and which the Optionee either (i) has held for at
      least six months or (ii) has purchased on the open market.

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                  (b) At the time of exercise, (i) the Company shall have the
      right to withhold from the number of shares of Stock to be issued upon
      exercise, the minimum number of shares necessary or (ii) at the discretion
      of the Committee, the Optionee shall be obligated to pay to the Company
      such amount as the Company deems necessary, in either event, to satisfy
      its obligation to withhold Federal, state or local income or other taxes
      incurred by reason of the exercise or the transfer of shares thereupon.

              6. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. As promptly as practical after receipt by
      the Company of a written notice of exercise and full payment to the
      Company of the aggregate Option Price and any required income tax
      withholding amount, the Company shall issue or transfer to the Optionee
      the number of shares of Stock with respect to which Options have been so
      exercised, or the net number of shares of Stock in the event of an
      exercise pursuant to Section 5(a)(iii), or to the extent applicable in
      Section 5(a)(iv), or after application of Section 5(b), or both, and shall
      deliver to the Optionee (or the Optionee's estate or beneficiary, if
      applicable) a certificate or certificates therefore, registered in the
      name of the Optionee (or such estate or beneficiary).

              7. NON-TRANSFERABILITY. The Options are not transferable by the
      Optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution
      and are exercisable during the Optionee's lifetime only by Optionee. No
      assignment or transfer of the Options, or of the rights represented
      thereby, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or
      otherwise (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution), shall
      vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or right herein
      whatsoever, but immediately upon such assignment or transfer the Options
      shall terminate and become of no further effect.

              8. RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Neither the Optionee nor a permitted
      transferee of the Options shall have any rights as a stockholder with
      respect to any share of Stock covered by the Options until the Optionee or
      any transferee shall have become the holder of record of such share, and
      no adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights
      in respect of such share for which the record date is prior to the date
      upon which the Optionee or any transferee shall become the holder of
      record thereof.

              9. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. Notwithstanding any of the provisions
      hereof, the Optionee hereby agrees that Optionee will not exercise the
      Options, and that the Company will not be obligated to issue or transfer
      any shares of Stock to the Optionee hereunder, if the exercise hereof or
      the issuance or transfer of such shares shall constitute a violation by
      the Optionee or the Company of any provisions of any law or regulation of
      any governmental authority. Any determination in this connection by the
      Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Company shall in no
      event be obliged to register any securities pursuant to the Securities Act
      of 1933 (as now in effect or as hereafter amended) or to take any other
      affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of the Options or the
      issuance or transfer of shares of Stock pursuant thereto to comply with
      any law or regulation of any governmental authority.

              10. NOTICE. Every notice or other communication relating to this
      Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be mailed to or delivered to the
      party for whom it is intended at such address as may from time to time be
      designated by it in a notice mailed or delivered to the other party as
      herein provided, provided that, unless and until some other address be so

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      designated, all notices or communications by the Optionee to the Company
      shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal executive
      office, and all notices or communications by the Company to the Optionee
      may be given to the Optionee personally or may be mailed to Optionee at
      the Optionee's last known address, as reflected in the Company's records.

              11. BINDING EFFECT. Subject to Section 7 hereof, this Agreement
      shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors
      of the parties hereto.

              12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed and
      interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without
      regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

              13. PLAN. The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated
      herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between
      discretionary terms and provisions of the Plan and the express provisions
      of this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern and control. In all other
      instances of conflicts or inconsistencies or omissions, the terms and
      provisions of the Plan shall govern and control.

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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.

                                               LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                                               By: ____________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

Accepted:

____________________________
Optionee

____________________________
Address

____________________________

____________________________
Social Security Number

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