Boeing Launch Services, Inc. (BLS), a
wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA], today announced an
agreement with Intelsat LLC, for a launch on a Sea Launch rocket in 2003.
"This is a significant win for Boeing Launch Services and it is the first
we’ve announced since forming the new organization. Signing with an industry
leader like Intelsat validates our customer focused approach and further
elevates Sea Launch’s position in the global marketplace," said Will
Trafton, president of BLS. "It also represents confidence in Sea Launch’s
growing record of reliability and accuracy, as well as the system’s evolving
performance capability to 6,000 kg."
The contract, signed Dec. 12, 2001, calls for a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket
to place a powerful Intelsat X spacecraft, weighing up to 5700 kg (12,540
lb.), into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Designed and built by Astrium,
Europe’s leading space company, the satellite will be positioned over the
Atlantic Ocean with both C-band and Ku-band transponders to provide a
variety of communication services. The power of this payload is in the order
of 8 kW and uses the latest high power version of Astrium’s Eurostar series,
the E3000, to provide operators with the large number of transponders they
require.
"We’re delighted that Intelsat has selected Sea Launch for this important
mission," said Jim Maser, president of Sea Launch. "Our mission managers and
launch team are prepared to meet all the needs of our highly experienced
customer. We look forward to working with the Intelsat and Astrium teams and
building a lasting relationship with both."
Through capacity on 21 satellites, Intelsat offers wholesale Internet,
broadcast, telephony and corporate network solutions to leading service
providers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Intelsat
offers a wide range of global satellite communications services with
superior quality and reliability. The Intelsat website is located at:
www.intelsat.com
The Sea Launch Company, LLC, is the world’s leading reliable heavy-lift
launch services provider for commercial satellite customers. From an
ocean-based launch site on the equator, Sea Launch offers the most direct
and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL
rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or place a payload into a higher
perigee, helping satellite operators attain a longer satellite service
capability. For more information, visit the Sea Launch website at:
www.sea-launch.com
Boeing Launch Services, Inc., is the commercial marketing and sales
organization for Sea Launch and Boeing Delta launch services. Established in
2001, BLS has a world-class team that represents a family of vehicles that
meet every payload lift requirement, from 1,000 kg -13,000 kg to
geosynchronous transfer orbit. For more information, go to:
www.boeing.com/launch
Boeing Space and Communications (S&C), headquartered in Seal Beach, Calif.,
is the world’s largest space and communications company. A unit of The
Boeing Company, S&C provides integrated solutions in launch services, human
space flight and exploration, missile defense, and information and
communications. It is NASA’s largest contractor; a leading provider of
space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile
defense; and a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance. The global enterprise has customers worldwide and
manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Australia.
# # #
Date: January 2002
Contact: Paula Korn, 562.951.7348, paula.korn@sea-launch.com
Madonna Walsh, 714.896.1466, madonna.a.walsh@boeing.com
