ILS To Launch Loral-Built MBSAT On Next-Generation Atlas

International Launch
Services (ILS) has signed an agreement with Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)
for launch of a satellite that will provide services to mobile users
in Japan and South Korea.

The satellite, MBSAT, is set for launch in the fourth quarter of
next year on a Lockheed Martin Atlas III vehicle from Cape Canaveral,
Fla.

The Atlas is one of three families of rockets offered by ILS,
which is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. and two
Russian companies, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space
Center and RSC Energia of Moscow. ILS was formed to market and manage
the missions for the Atlas and the Russian Proton and Angara vehicles.

SS/L is building the satellite for Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (MBC)
of Japan, which has announced plans to deliver such multimedia
services as audio, video and data to mobile users in Japan. Similar
services are planned in South Korea using the same satellite.

“I’m pleased to be announcing another launch for Space
Systems/Loral, within weeks of successfully putting the Loral-built
DIRECTV-5 satellite in orbit,” said ILS President Mark Albrecht. “In
fact, we’re in the midst of launching three Loral satellites in a row
on our Proton vehicle and last year we launched a Loral satellite on
Atlas. We welcome Loral to either of our launch sites any time.”

The MBSAT spacecraft is a version of SS/L’s space-proven
three-axis, body-stabilized, 1300 bus, as are the three SS/L
satellites that ILS is launching this year. “With last month’s launch
of DIRECTV-5, ILS’s two vehicles have put a total of 29 Loral
spacecraft into orbit, all successfully, and we expect another Mission
Success next year with MBSAT,” Albrecht said.

The Atlas III is part of the next generation of launch vehicles
being offered by ILS, based in McLean, Va. The Atlas III is a planned
progression from the 100-percent-successful Atlas II series. It also
proved out technologies that are used on the Atlas V, which Lockheed
Martin developed for both commercial missions and the U.S. Air Force’s
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.

Two Atlas III vehicles have flown, both successfully, and the
Atlas V is scheduled to begin launching in July.

The Atlas III builds upon the pressure-stabilized booster design
of the Atlas II, but uses the Russian RD-180 main engine with variable
thrust control. This engine is evolved from the flight-proven RD-170
engine built by NPO Energomash. The Atlas V also uses the RD-180, with
a structurally stabilized Common Core Booster(TM).

Up to five solid rocket boosters can be strapped on for additional
lift capability. All Atlas vehicles use a Centaur upper stage, with
one or two Pratt & Whitney RL-10 engines.

ILS’ Atlas rockets and their Centaur upper stages are built by
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company-Astronautics Operations at
facilities in Denver, Colo.; Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego, Calif.
The three-stage Proton and the Breeze M upper stage are assembled by
Khrunichev at its plant near Moscow. The alternative Block DM upper
stage is built by Energia, also near Moscow.

Space Systems/Loral is a premier designer, manufacturer and
integrator of powerful satellites and satellite systems. SS/L also
provides a range of related services, including mission control
operations and procurement of launch services.

Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company has an international base
of commercial and governmental customers whose applications include
broadband digital communications, direct-to-home broadcast, defense
communications, environmental monitoring, and air traffic control.
SS/L is a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications.

Mobile Broadcasting Corp. was established in Japan to provide cars
and mobile terminals with digital satellite broadcasting. MBC’s
partners include 55 companies, including major shareholders Toshiba,
SK Telecom, NTT Data, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Toyota, Fujitsu,
Nippon TV and Panasonic. For more information, visit www.mbco.co.jp.

ILS offers the broadest range of launch services in the world
along with products with the highest reliability in the industry. With
two independent, highly reliable vehicles and two dedicated launch
sites, ILS pioneered the concept of Mutual Backup, thus assuring
satellites will be launched on schedule.

ILS’s next launch is planned for June with the EchoStar VIII
satellite, built by SS/L, on a Proton vehicle. For more information,
visit www.ilslaunch.com.