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Land Launch to carry AMOS-3 LAND LAUNCH NEWS RELEASE Posted: February 22, 2006 Space International Services and Sea Launch Company are pleased to announce the award of a firm launch contract with Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., utilizing the Land Launch system. The delivery-in-orbit (DIO) agreement requires a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch the AMOS-3 communications satellite to geostationary orbit from the Land Launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in the 4th Quarter of 2007. The AMOS-3 spacecraft will have both Ku-band and Ka-band transponders and will consist of fixed as well as steerable beams, to provide broadcast and communications services to Europe, the Middle East and the East Coast of the United States. It has a planned operational lifetime of 12 years. Built by Israel Aircraft Industries' MBT Space Division, AMOS-3 will be located at a final orbital position of 4 degrees West Longitude, where it will join existing co-located satellites AMOS-1 and AMOS-2. AMOS-3 eventually will replace AMOS-1 when it comes to its operational end-of-life, currently expected in 2008. The AMOS system is owned and operated by Space-Communication Ltd. (Spacecom). As with other Land Launch missions, this third commercial mission under contract for launch in 2007 will have both the satellite and the launch vehicle processed and launched from existing Zenit processing and launch facilities at the Baikonur launch complex. Optimizing on heritage hardware, systems and expertise, Land Launch uses a Zenit-3SLB version of the reliable Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket. About Land Launch Land Launch is based on the collaboration of the Sea Launch Company and Space International Services (SIS), both international companies, to meet the launch needs of an emerging market for dedicated commercial launches in the medium spacecraft mass range. Sea Launch and SIS provide commercial customers with mission management. SIS is also responsible for hardware production and launch operations. About Space International Services Space International Services is a Moscow-based venture, founded by SDO Yuzhnoye and PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine, RSC Energia, the Design Bureau of Transport Machinery (KBTM), TseNKI (Center for Ground-based Space Infrastructure) and Ural Mining and Metallurgy Company (OAO UGMK) of Russia, with the firm support of the Russian Federal Space Agency, headed by Mr. A. N. Perminov. About Sea Launch Company Sea Launch Company, LLC, based in Long Beach, Calif., provides reliable heavy lift launch services to commercial satellite customers. Its international partners include Boeing (U.S.), Aker ASA (Norway), RSC Energia (Russia) and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash (Ukraine). With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the reliable Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch is building a legacy, with one successful launch, one satisfied customer, at a time. About Israel Aircraft Industries Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is Israel's largest industrial exporter and a globally recognized leader for defense and commercial markets. IAI provides unique and cost-effective technological solutions for a broad spectrum of needs in space, air, land, sea and homeland defense. IAI is an established leader in a vast number of fields, including: design, production and certification of executive and business jets, maintenance and conversions of commercial aircraft, unmanned air and ground vehicles, radars, EW, anti-tactical ballistic missiles (ATBM), electro-optical and radar payloads, navigation satellites, communication satellites, observation satellites and satellite ground control stations. |
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Commander Steve Lindsey and his crew, the astronauts set to fly the second post-Columbia test flight, hold an informal news conference with reporters at Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 17. The crew is in Florida to examine hardware and equipment that will be carried on the STS-121 flight of shuttle Discovery.
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NASA Administrator Mike Griffin and his No. 2, Shana Dale, appear before the House Science Committee on Feb. 16 to defend President Bush's proposed 2007 budget for the space agency. Congressmen grill Griffin and Dale about the budget's plans to cut funding for some science programs.
With the four test flights complete, NASA declared the space shuttle a fully operational program. The crews were expanded, commercial payloads were welcomed aboard and the mission plans became much more hectic. This new era began with Columbia's STS-5 flight that launched the ANIK-C3 and SBS-C commercial communications satellites from the shuttle's payload bay. Commander Vance Brand, pilot Bob Overmyer and mission specialists Joe Allen and Bill Lenoir narrate highlights from their November 1982 mission in this post-flight presentation.
The developmental test flights of the space shuttle concluded with Columbia's STS-4 mission. Commander Ken Mattingly and pilot Henry Hartsfield spent a week in space examining orbiter systems and running science experiments. The 1982 flight ended on the Fourth of July with President Reagan at the landing site to witness Columbia's return and the new orbiter Challenger leaving for Kennedy Space Center. Watch this STS-4 post-flight crew presentation film.
Columbia's STS-3 mission is best remembered in the history books for its conclusion -- the first and so far only landing at the picturesque Northrup Strip at White Sands, New Mexico. In this post-flight presentation film, the crew describes the highlights of the March 1982 mission and shows some of the fun they had in orbit. The commander also tells how he accidentally "popped a wheelie" before bringing the nose gear down to the runway surface.