International Launch Services (ILS) will loft a sixth satellite for fleet operator SES aboard a Russian Proton rocket before the end of 2014 under an extension of an agreement originally signed in June 2007, the companies announced Sept. 6.
ILS in April launched the first satellite as part of the Multi-Launch Agreement, SES-1, and two more missions under the deal are slated for 2011 and 2012. Three more ILS missions under the agreement will be conducted in the 2012-2014 timeframe, with satellites to be assigned on an as-needed basis.
The satellites covered by the deal so far, in addition to SES-1 are NSS-14 and Sirius-5. ILS also will provide backup Proton launch capabilities in 2011 as part of the deal.
