International Launch Services (ILS) and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) announced a contract today for an ILS Proton launch service as early as 2014 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The launch service is contracted for launching one of AsiaSat’s future satellites, AsiaSat 6, AsiaSat 8 or AsiaSat 9, a replacement satellite to be procured for AsiaSat 4. The launch contract includes an option for AsiaSat to order one additional launch service from ILS for any of its upcoming three satellites.
Frank McKenna, President of ILS said, “The successful launches of AsiaSat 5 in 2009 and AsiaSat 7 in 2011 enabled the timely expansion of AsiaSat’s service offerings across the Asia-Pacific region. We are honored to play a key role in AsiaSat’s growth over the years and fully support AsiaSat’s fleet expansion program.”
“We have relied on the professionalism and precision of the ILS and Khrunichev teams to launch our satellites over the past 13 years. This launch service contract with ILS Proton will allow the timely provision of additional high quality and comprehensive satellite services to our customers. We anticipate that ILS and Khrunichev will again provide us outstanding quality and value to support our business plan,” said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.
About ILS and Khrunichev
ILS is a world leader in providing launch services for global satellite operators offering a complete array of services and support, from contract signing through mission management and on-orbit delivery. ILS has exclusive rights to market the Proton vehicle to commercial satellite operators worldwide and is a U.S. company headquartered in Reston, Va., near Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.
Khrunichev, which holds the majority interest in ILS, is one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry. Khrunichev manufactures the Proton system and is developing the next generation Angara launch system. The Proton launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has a heritage of over 375 missions since 1965. Khrunichev includes among its branches, a number of key manufacturers of launch vehicle and spacecraft components in Moscow and in other cities of the Russian Federation. For more information, visit www.khrunichev.com.
About AsiaSat
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), the leading regional satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world’s population with its four satellites, AsiaSat 3S at 105.5oE, AsiaSat 4 at 122oE, AsiaSat 5 at 100.5oE and AsiaSat 7. The AsiaSat satellite fleet provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Some 500 television and radio channels are now delivered by the company’s satellites offering access to over 620 million TV households across the Asia-Pacific region. AsiaSat also provides telecommunications operators and end users services such as voice networks, private VSAT networks and broadband multimedia. AsiaSat’s latest satellites, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8, are planned to be launched in the first half of 2014. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1135). For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com.
Contact:
Media inquiries:
International Launch Services, Reston, Va.
Karen Monaghan, Director of Communications and Customer Relations
Tel: 1 571-633-7549
Mobile: 1 571-282-5195
Email: k.monaghan@ilslaunch.com
Website: www.ilslaunch.com
or
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited
Sabrina Cubbon, VP, Sales and Marketing
Tel: 852 2500 0899
Mobile: 852 9097 1210
Email: scubbon@asiasat.com
or
Winnie Pang, Manager, Corporate Affairs
Tel: 852 2500 0880
Email: wpang@asiasat.com
