The Lockheed Martin Atlas 3B rocket launches on its maiden voyage this past February. Photo: ILS

A mobile communications spacecraft designed to serve Japan and South Korea will be launched by a Lockheed Martin Atlas 3 rocket in late 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, officials announced Tuesday.

Space Systems/Loral, manufacturer of the MBSAT satellite for Japan's Mobile Broadcasting Corp. The craft will be used to provide multimedia services as audio, video and data to mobile users. MBSAT will use SS/L's 1300 model design.

The Atlas 3 mission was booked through International Launch Services, the joint U.S./Russian venture formed in 1995 by Lockheed Martin, Khrunichev and Energia to globally market Atlas and Proton rockets.

"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."

"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.

Two Atlas 3 rockets have flown to date, both successfully. The rocket is uses the Russian-made RD-180 main engine.

The next ILS launch is planned for June 22 when the EchoStar 8 satellite, built by SS/L, is carried aloft by a Proton rocket.