Press Release

Intelsat to Purchase Atlas V Launch Vehicle From ILS

By SpaceRef Editor
May 11, 2004
Filed under , ,

International Launch
Services (ILS) announced today that Intelsat has agreed to purchase an
Atlas V rocket for the launch of a future satellite. Financial terms
were not disclosed.

This is the third Atlas V launch ordered from ILS this year. ILS
leads the launch services market, having captured awards for seven
launches using both of its vehicles, the Lockheed Martin-built
Atlas rocket and the Proton vehicle from Khrunichev State
Research and Production Space Center of Russia. This Atlas launch
order is part of a broader transaction between Intelsat and Lockheed
Martin.

“We look forward to another launch with Intelsat,” said ILS
President Mark Albrecht. “Intelsat is the largest commercial customer
of Atlas vehicles, having launched 30 satellites since January 1971.”

In addition, ILS is launching the Intelsat 10-02 satellite next
month on its Proton vehicle. Another Proton rocket launched the
Intelsat 903 satellite two years ago.

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev. It was
formed in 1995 to provide launch services to customers worldwide on
the Atlas and Proton vehicles. Headquartered near Washington, D.C.,
ILS offers the broadest range of launch services in the world along
with the highest reliability in the industry.

Contact:

  • International Launch Services, McLean
  • Fran Slimmer, 571-633-7462
  • mobile: 646-229-4801
  • fran.slimmer@lmco.com

SpaceRef staff editor.