International Launch Services (ILS) announced today a contract with SES AMERICOM and SES ASTRA, both SES GLOBAL companies, to launch three satellites in 2005 and 2006. Financial terms were not disclosed.

An Atlas rocket, seen here in this file photo, will launch the AMC-14 satellite. Credit: Lockheed Martin

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. of the United States, manufacturer of the Atlas rocket, and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, builder of the Proton vehicle. ILS provides launch services on the Atlas and Proton vehicles to customers worldwide.

The contract offers SES GLOBAL schedule assurance with a mix of Atlas and Proton launch services. SES AMERICOM signed up for the launch of its AMC-14 satellite in early 2006 on an Atlas V rocket, and AMC-16 in early 2005 on a Proton vehicle. SES ASTRA will boost its ASTRA 1L satellite on a Proton vehicle in late 2006. All three spacecraft are A2100 models being built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems.

"With three firm missions, this is one of the largest commercial launch contracts the industry has seen in years," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "The SES companies individually are long-time and valued customers, and we're pleased to be continuing the relationship with the SES family in this combined contract. Our ties to SES date back to the first ILS commercial Proton launch, with the ASTRA 1F satellite. Since that 1996 mission, Proton vehicles have launched at least one satellite for SES ASTRA or SES AMERICOM every year."

Albrecht added: "We started launching satellites on our Atlas rocket for the SES AMERICOM fleet in 1996 as well. This year alone, we have four SES AMERICOM launches manifested - two each on Atlas and Proton rockets. We have launched 12 SES AMERICOM and SES ASTRA satellites, and with this new order we will have a backlog of seven launches with the SES companies.

"As the satellite industry changes, launch contracts like this one, which provide the added value of reliability and schedule assurance, will become more the rule than the exception. Only ILS has the diversity and flexibility to offer schedule assurance on two vehicles through a single contract and one team," Albrecht said.

Dean Olmstead, president and CEO of SES AMERICOM, said: "The missions of both AMC-16 and AMC-14 are critical to the expanding role of AMERICOM2Home(R) - providing bandwidth for new high-definition, local-into-local and interactive broadband services, enabling U.S. consumers to enjoy a full suite of satellite-based entertainment, information and internet applications. We are entrusting these missions to ILS, confidently expecting it to launch them on time, on budget and to spec."

Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES ASTRA, stated: "We look forward to working with ILS' dedicated professionals at the Baikonur Cosmodrome as we prepare for the launch of ASTRA 1L, an important replacement satellite which will further bolster ASTRA's comprehensive inter-satellite backup scheme at the world's most popular orbital position of 19.2 East."

The ASTRA satellite system is Europe's leading direct-to-home satellite system, delivering services to more than 92 million direct-to-home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1,100 analog and digital television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positions for DTH (Direct-To-Home) services are 19.2(degree) East and 28.2(degree) East. Professional services like direct-to cable (DTC), satellite newsgathering (SNG) and occasional use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5(degree)/24.2(degree) East and 5.2(degree) East.

The largest supplier of satellite services in the United States, SES AMERICOM, Inc., is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Department of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 11 spacecraft in orbital positions providing service throughout the Americas. SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions.

SES ASTRA and SES AMERICOM are SES GLOBAL companies. SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the United States. The company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Via its WORLDSAT subsidiary it provides unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets of these SES GLOBAL partners. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the U.S. government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 41 satellites across the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit satellite network, and in satellite technology companies Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., ND Satcom and SATLYNX.

ILS was formed in 1995 to provide launch services on both the U.S.-built Atlas rocket and the Russian-built Proton vehicle to customers worldwide, including technical, management and marketing expertise. It offers the broadest range of launch services in the world along with the highest reliability in the industry.