Lockheed Martin's next-generation Atlas 5 rocket has received two orders this week -- both for commercial communications satellite launches -- including one that is slated to occur before year's end.

An Atlas 5 rocket is rolled to the launch pad last summer. Photo: Justin Ray/Spaceflight Now

International Launch Services, the marketing firm for Atlas and Russian Proton rockets, announced Tuesday that Intelsat has purchased an Atlas 5 booster for a satellite to be assigned later. The deal is part of a "broader transaction" as Intelsat acquires Lockheed Martin's COMSAT General business.

"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."

On Wednesday, ILS said the AMC-16 communications satellite originally expected to fly aboard a Russian Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan would switch to a dedicated Atlas 5 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. The move allows the satellite to lift off in late 2004 vs. early 2005 on Proton.

"Only ILS can offer this type of opportunity in a single contract," Albrecht said of AMC-16's rocket transfer. "With two dedicated launch systems and exceptional vehicle reliability, ILS not only offers schedule assurance to meet contract requirements, but goes beyond that to provide additional flexibility to meet evolving customer needs. That's what makes ILS the launch industry leader."

Flying in the 521 vehicle configuration, the Atlas 5 will feature its larger 5-meter diameter nose cone to encapsulate AMC-16, two strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. This is the same version that flew the most recent Atlas 5 flight last July carrying the Rainbow satellite.

An Atlas 5 rocket in the 521 configuration lifts off. Photo: Lockheed Martin

The AMC-16 mission is Atlas 5's fourth launch order so far this year, joining the Intelsat deal, firm assignment of a National Reconnaissance Office classified mission from the U.S. West Coast in 2005 and the AMC-14 spacecraft slated to fly in early 2006.

Being built by Lockheed Martin, the AMC-14 and -16 satellites are based upon the A2100 model design. They will be operated by SES AMERICOM to relay telecommunications services across the U.S.

"The missions of both AMC-16 and AMC-14 are critical to the expanding role of AMERICOM2Home -- 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," said Dean Olmstead, president and CEO of SES AMERICOM.

ILS already deployed one SES AMERICOM satellite this year -- AMC-10 in February using an Atlas 2AS rocket. The AMC-11 is awaiting liftoff from Cape Canaveral next week atop another Atlas 2AS. Proton boosters will be used to carry AMC-15 and Worldsat-2, previously known as AMC-12, in the second half of this year.

"SES AMERICOM has always been a frequent flyer with ILS," Albrecht said.

The Atlas 5 has flown three times, all successfully. The next launch is scheduled for October carrying an Inmarsat mobile communications satellite using a 431-vehicle configuration with a 4-meter nose cone, three strap-on solid boosters and a single-engine upper stage.