Press Release

Eutelsat Selects ILS Proton for Assurance of HOT BIRD Launch Beginning 2006

By SpaceRef Editor
February 10, 2005
Filed under , ,
Eutelsat Selects ILS Proton for Assurance of HOT BIRD Launch Beginning 2006
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International Launch
Services (ILS) and Eutelsat S.A. have signed a contract for the launch
of a future Eutelsat satellite mission.

The contract was negotiated and signed in the framework of
Eutelsat’s strategy of contracting with different suppliers of
satellites and launch services in order to ensure timely delivery of
replacement capacity in orbit at its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighborhood.

The launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2006. The mission
will use the powerful Proton/Breeze M launch vehicle configuration.
The Proton is built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space
Center of Russia, which is partnered with Lockheed Martin
of the United States in the ILS joint venture.

ILS President Mark Albrecht said: “Eutelsat is a long-time and
valued customer, which has repeatedly demonstrated its confidence in
both ILS vehicles, Proton and Atlas. We pride ourselves in offering
the world’s two most reliable rockets. In addition, we are familiar
with the candidate satellite models, so our vehicles can accommodate
whichever payload is finally designated by Eutelsat.

“We look forward to another successful mission with Eutelsat at
the beginning of 2006,” Albrecht said.

This will be the eighth Eutelsat launch on an ILS vehicle, and the
company’s second 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.

Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat’s CEO, said: “It is important for our
company’s business plan to bring new HOT BIRD capacity into service in
early 2006 in order to enhance security of our satellite system and to
replace HOT BIRD 1. We are pleased with the substantial flexibility
ILS offers us, and we count on another good flight.”

About ILS

ILS is the global leader in launch services. With a remarkable
launch rate of 72 missions since 2000, the Atlas and Proton launch
vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and
flexibility that have made them preferred choice among satellite
operators worldwide. Since the beginning of 2003, ILS has signed more
new commercial contracts than all of its competitors combined. ILS was
formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington,
D.C. www.ilslaunch.com

About Eutelsat

With capacity commercialized on 23 satellites that provide
coverage from North and South America to Far East Asia, Eutelsat is
one of the world’s three leading satellite operators. Its satellites
are used for broadcasting more than 1,500 television and 800 radio
stations to 120 million cable and satellite homes, for TV contribution
services, corporate network solutions, positioning and communications
solutions for mobile users, Internet backbone connections and
broadband access for terrestrial, maritime and in-flight applications.
Eutelsat has developed a range of turnkey broadband products for local
communities, corporates, SoHos and consumers. Its broadband subsidiary
Skylogic markets and operates services through multimedia platforms in
France and Italy that serve sites in Europe, Africa, Asia and the
Americas. Headquartered in Paris, and with staff of 450 commercial,
technical and operational experts from 25 countries, Eutelsat
generated turnover of EUR760 million for the 2003/2004 financial year.
www.eutelsat.com

SpaceRef staff editor.