A
Russian-built Proton K rocket successfully launched the PAS-10
communications satellite for PanAmSat Corp. today, marking the first
mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS).

Liftoff from Baikonur’s Pad 23 occurred at 7:11 a.m. local time
(01:11 GMT, 9:11 p.m. May 14 EDT). The mission lasted 6 hours and 33
minutes, at which time the satellite was separated from the launch
vehicle into geosynchronous transfer orbit. PanAmSat will position the
Boeing 601HP model satellite at 68.5 degrees East longitude to provide
communications services in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

“It’s another excellent launch for Proton and ILS,” noted ILS
President Mark Albrecht. Last year, the Proton flew 14 times, all
successfully. Eight of those were commercial missions for ILS and six
were Russian federal launches. “It’s great to see Proton continuing
its winning streak, and just a month after successfully flying the
first of its Proton M/Breeze M vehicles,” Albrecht said.

This was the first mission of 2001 for ILS, a joint venture of
Lockheed Martin Corp. in the United States and Khrunichev State
Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia in Russia. ILS
manages all tasks associated with providing launch services on both
the American Atlas and the Russian-built Proton vehicle families,
including technical, management and marketing expertise.

“PAS-10 marks PanAmSat’s sixth new satellite in less than 18
months, demonstrating our strong commitment to build the most robust
fleet available to serve the needs of our long-term and valued
customers,” said R. Douglas Kahn, PanAmSat’s president and chief
executive officer. “This launch also renews our successful
relationship with ILS, which ensured the timely and effective delivery
of our new spacecraft into orbit.”

Since ILS was formed in 1995, it has launched four other
satellites that are part of PanAmSat’s fleet. Proton vehicles launched
PAS-8 in November 1998 and PAS-5 in August 1997. Atlas launched Galaxy
VIII-I in December 1997 and Galaxy III-R in December 1995.

The three-stage Proton rocket is produced by Khrunichev. The Block
DM fourth stage used in today’s mission was built by Energia. An
alternative fourth stage, the Breeze M, is also built by Khrunichev.
ILS’ Atlas rockets and their Centaur upper stages are built by
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company-Astronautics Operations.

PanAmSat Corporation is the world’s premier provider of global
video and data broadcasting services via satellite.

Operating a global network of 21 in-orbit spacecraft and seven
technical facilities, the company delivers entertainment and
information to cable television systems, TV broadcast affiliates,
direct-to-home TV operators, internet service providers,
telecommunications companies and corporations worldwide. PanAmSat will
expand its global fleet to 22 spacecraft by year-end 2001.

ILS’ next launch on Proton is scheduled for June, with the ASTRA
2C spacecraft for Societe Europeenne des Satellites of Luxembourg. For
more information about ILS, visit www.ilslaunch.com.