International
Launch
Services
and
SES
Announce
the
ILS
Proton
Launch
of
SES-3
in
2011
Launch
to
Be
Paired
with
Kazsat-2
Satellite
11
February
2010
International
Launch
Services
announced
the
ILS
Proton
launch
of
the
SES-3
satellite
with
the
Kazsat-2
telecommunications
satellite
in
2011.
The
SES-3
satellite,
the
third
in
SES’s
multi-satellite
procurement
agreement
with
Orbital
Sciences,
will
mark
the
fifth
SES
mission
for
ILS/Proton
in
2010-11.
SES-3
is
intended
to
replace
existing
spacecraft
over
the
Americas.
The
mission
for
the
launch
of
SES-3
with
Proton
will
be
to
insert
the
three-ton
satellite
into
geostationary
transfer
orbit.
This
agreement
for
the
shared
launch
of
SES-3
further
demonstrates
Proton’s
capability
to
launch
multiple
spacecraft.
In
February
of
last
year,
Proton
successfully
launched
the
dual
Express
satellite
mission
with
the
Express-AM44
and
Express
MD1
satellites.
The
Proton
vehicle
is
Russia’s
premier
heavy
lift
launcher
and
is
built
by
Khrunichev,
the
majority
owner
of
ILS
and
one
of
the
pillars
of
the
Russian
space
industry.
Proton
has
a
long
heritage
with
over
350
launches
performed
since
its
maiden
flight
in
1965.
Frank
McKenna,
President
of
ILS
said,
“ILS
and
SES
have
partnered
in
many
industry
firsts,
including
the
first
commercial
Proton
launch
and
the
unique
Multi-Launch
Agreement
to
ensure
access
to
space.
Now,
ILS
will
celebrate
another
launch
milestone
with
SES
with
the
shared
launch
of
the
SES-3
satellite
on
ILS
Proton.
This
shared
launch
provides
an
alternative
launch
option
that
previously
did
not
exist
in
the
commercial
launch
market.
We
are
pleased
that
we
could
deliver
significant
value
for
our
long
term
partner
SES
with
a
cost-effective
solution
to
meet
their
specific
business
needs.”
“Since
our
first
launch
on
an
ILS
Proton,
SES
has
counted
on
ILS
to
provide
access
to
space,”
said
Martin
Halliwell,
President
of
SES
ENGINEERING.
“ILS
and
Khrunichev
have
always
supported
the
ongoing
growth
and
success
of
our
business.
With
the
development
of
this
shared
launch
capability,
ILS
Proton
has
provided
a
real
value
alternative
to
meet
our
requirements
for
the
launch
of
SES-3,
and
will
allow
us
to
continue
on
our
course
of
expansion
of
our
global
fleet
and
our
business.”
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