Dépêches

ILS Proton Successfully Launches QuetzSat-1 for SES

Dépèche transmise le 30 septembre 2011 par Business Wire

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Launch Services (ILS), a leading launch services provider for the global commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the QuetzSat-1 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit today on an ILS Proton for SES of Luxembourg (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG). This was the 19^th SES satellite launched on ILS Proton.

The ILS Proton Breeze M launched from Pad 39 at the Cosmodrome at 12:32 a.m. today local time (2:32 p.m. EST, 18:32 GMT on September 29). After a 9 hour, 13-minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the QuetzSat-1 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

This was the 368^th launch for Proton since its inaugural flight in 1965, and the 67^th ILS Proton launch overall. The Proton Breeze M launch vehicle was developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, one of the pillars of the Russian space industry and the majority shareholder in ILS.

QuetzSat-1 is an all Ku-band high-powered (20-kilowatt) communications broadcasting satellite with coverage of Mexico, USA, and Central America which is fully contracted to a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation. The spacecraft is based on Space Systems/Loral’s highly reliable 1300 satellite platform and carries 32 Ku-band transponders. QuetzSat-1 provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances and provides high power for advanced DTH television. It is designed to deliver service for 15 years or longer.

ILS President, Frank McKenna said, “SES has a long history with ILS and is an integral part of our heritage with 19 missions launched on ILS Proton, dating back to the groundbreaking first launch on ILS Proton in 1996 with SES’s Astra 1F satellite. This long-term partnership illustrates a high level of confidence and trust in ILS Proton to launch over a third of their satellite fleet. We are honored to have launched the important QuetzSat-1 satellite for SES to serve EchoStar and thank SES, Space Systems/Loral and the ILS and Khrunichev teams for ensuring a successful launch of QuetzSat-1 to provide DTH services to Mexico and North and Central America.”

“The successful launch on ILS Proton of QuetzSat-1 satellite was critical for SES and our customer, EchoStar. We know we can count on ILS as they share the same dedication and commitment to facilitating the expansion of satellite communications worldwide with a launch on the heritage Proton launch vehicle. We look forward to our upcoming launches on ILS Proton to support the continued growth and replacement of our satellite fleet, continuing to reach new markets across the globe,” said SES President and CEO, Romain Bausch.

About ILS and Khrunichev

ILS is a world leader in providing launch services for global satellite operators offering a complete array of services and support, from contract signing through mission management and on-orbit delivery. ILS has exclusive rights to market the Proton vehicle to commercial satellite operators worldwide and is a U.S. company headquartered in Reston, Va., near Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.

Khrunichev, which holds the majority interest in ILS, is one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry. Khrunichev manufactures the Proton system and is developing the next generation Angara launch system. The Proton launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has a heritage of 368 missions since 1965. Khrunichev includes among its branches, a number of key manufacturers of launch vehicle and spacecraft components in Moscow and in other cities of the Russian Federation. For more information, visit www.khrunichev.com.

About SES

SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 49 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organization worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.

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