ILS
Amid GEO downturn, launch operators look for new markets
With orders for geostationary orbit satellites declining, potentially permanently, commercial launch service providers are looking to government and other markets to make up for lost business.
New Roscosmos chief prioritizes ending Proton’s reign
In his first interview as head of Russia’s Roscosmos space corporation, Dmitry Rogozin confirmed reports of the venerable Proton rocket’s coming demise and suggested Russia is looking to make its segment of the ISS more autonomous.
Baikonur Cosmodrome can support polar launches with Proton Medium, ILS says
International Launch Services says Russia’s Proton rocket will be better able to compete for constellation launches, along with other missions, thanks to new orbits accessible through an upcoming variant of the rocket.
ILS’s Pysher: Proton continues to reinvent itself to compete
The top executive with the U.S. firm that markets Russia's Proton rocket blasted what he characterized as a recent slew of misinformation surrounding the vehicle.
SpaceX takes top honors in SpaceNews Awards for Excellence & Innovation
SpaceNews honored during an awards luncheon held Dec. 19 at the City Club of Washington. The luncheon was organized in partnership with the Washington Space Business Roundtable.
Big launch companies predict doom for upcoming smallsat launchers
Speaking at the World Satellite Business Week in Paris Sept. 12, top executives of the world’s five leading launch service providers agreed that the future small-satellite launch market will favor ridesharing and customized services on larger launch vehicles rather than tailored launches by the newcomers
ILS Proton launches Hispasat satellite
The launch is Proton’s third overall this year, preceded by an ILS launch of EchoStar-21 in June and a Russian government launch of the Blagovest-11L satellite in August.
Proton returns after year hiatus with EchoStar-21 launch
Russia’s Proton rocket returned to service June 7, almost one year to the date from vehicle’s last flight, delivering a U.S. telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.
Spaceport checkup delays Proton return to flight to June 7
The first launch of Russia’s Proton rocket in nearly a year is now scheduled for June 7, a nine-day slip driven by a review of the ground systems at the rocket’s launch site.
ILS plans larger Proton payload fairing, defers work on smaller Proton variant
International Launch Services is adding a larger payload fairing for its Proton rocket, but deferring development of one of two smaller versions of the vehicle announced last year.
ILS still planning three commercial launches this year despite Proton engine recall
International Launch Services, the commercial arm of Proton rocket manufacturer Khrunichev, says it still expects to complete all three launches planned for 2017 once Proton returns to flight.
ILS unveils two Proton variants sized for smaller satellites
International Launch Services on Sept. 13 announced two new variants of its Proton rocket that will be sized to launch smaller geostationary satellites.
ILS wins contract for Angara launch of South Korea’s Kompsat-6
Tuesday's briefing begins with ILS being chosen to launch Korea's Kompsat-6 satellite on an Angara 1.2 rocket.
