International Launch
Services (ILS) and Eutelsat SA have signed a contract for launching
the W3A satellite on a Proton rocket.
The W3A launch is planned for late 2003 using the powerful Proton
M/Breeze M configuration. The satellite is an Astrium Eurostar 3000
model, similar to several already scheduled for launch on Proton
vehicles.
This will be the seventh Eutelsat launch on an ILS vehicle, and
the company’s first on an ILS Proton. Eutelsat, one of the world’s
leading satellite operators, has launched six times successfully on
ILS’ Lockheed Martin-built Atlas rocket. Three of those missions were
the inaugural flights of Atlas variants – Atlas II, Atlas III and
Atlas V.
Lockheed Martin developed Atlas V to meet not only commercial
requirements, but also to provide the U.S. government with assured
access to space through the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
ILS President Mark Albrecht said: “Eutelsat is a long-time and
valued customer. Our ties go back to the late 1980s, when Eutelsat was
the first customer to purchase a commercial Atlas launch, giving rise
to the U.S. commercial launch industry. We have provided Eutelsat with
six excellent Atlas launches, and we appreciate their continued
confidence in ILS by choosing Proton this time. ILS prides itself on
having the world’s most reliable launch vehicles, with comparable
capabilities, enabling us to offer mutual backup. Thus we provide our
customers with schedule assurance, which is the cornerstone of our
business.”
ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. in the
United States, which builds the Atlas rocket; and Russian companies
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia.
Khrunichev produces the Proton vehicles and the Breeze M upper stage.
ILS was formed in 1995 to provide launch services to customers
worldwide, including technical, management and marketing expertise. It
offers the broadest range of launch services in the world along with
the highest reliability in the industry.
