The Canadian Anik F1R communications satellite -- a craft recently ordered to replace its namesake that suffered the effects of a design flaw in space -- will be launched aboard a Russian Proton rocket, officials have announced.

Artist's impression of the Anik F1R spacecraft. Credit: Astrium

Being built in Europe by Astrium, Anik F1R is targeted for deployment in 2005 by a Proton M booster and Breeze M upper stage in a mission managed by International Launch Services.

ILS finalized the launch contract with Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat last week. The deal includes an option for launching an additional satellite. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with International Launch Services -- our partner in the successful launch of both our direct broadcast satellites, Nimiq 1 and Nimiq 2," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat's president and CEO. "ILS offered Telesat the right blend of experience, innovation and ease of doing business, and we look forward to working with their team once again."

The Nimiq 2 was launched three months ago aboard the first commercial flight of Proton M/Breeze M.

"We thank Telesat for its continued confidence in ILS and the Proton," ILS President Mark Albrecht said. "We're determined to make this a triple-header -- Telesat's third mission with ILS, its third on a Proton and it will be the third success!"

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin in the United States, which builds the Atlas rocket; and Russian companies Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia. Khrunichev produces the Proton vehicles and the Breeze M upper stage.

Anik F1R uses a Eurostar 3000 satellite design with 24 C-band and 32 Ku-band transponders for television broadcasting, telephony, business communications and Internet-based services. The satellite, operating in geostationary orbit at 107.3 degrees West longitude, will provide commercial services for a minimum of 15 years.

It will replace Anik F1, which suffers from a power-generation defect that has affected several similar satellites based on Boeing's 702 satellite model. Anik F1 was launched in November 2000 aboard an Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket.