3rd ILS Proton Launch of 2006

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Commercial Proton to Launch Arabsat's BADR-4

The International Launch Services press release is reproduced below:


ILS Begins Next Launch Campaign
2 More Commercial Proton Missions by Year's End

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Oct. 12, 2006 - International Launch Services (ILS) kicked off its next Proton launch campaign this week with the arrival Tuesday of the satellite payload, Arabsat's BADR-4, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

With the delivery of the Proton's Breeze M upper stage today, all flight hardware is in place for the scheduled Nov. 9 launch. The liftoff time is 2:01 a.m. in Baikonur, 20:01 Nov. 8 GMT and 3:01 p.m. Nov. 8 EST.

The BADR-4 launch will be followed in about a month by another ILS Proton mission, with the MEASAT-3 satellite. The Russian government also has scheduled the launch of a GLONASS navigation satellite on a Proton vehicle in December, making for a busy fourth quarter.

"We are committed to successfully delivering our customers' satellites to orbit on schedule with the Proton launch system," said Frank McKenna, ILS president.

The BADR-4 satellite is an Astrium Eurostar E2000+ model, the third Eurostar satellite to be launched this year on Proton. Astrium contracted with ILS for the launch on behalf of the end-user, Arabsat.

The spacecraft is a multipurpose communications satellite designed to serve the Arab countries and neighboring regions. The Ku-band payload will carry direct-to-home, interactive TV and internet broadband services, with additional capacity to accommodate anticipated demand for high-definition TV.

International Launch Services is the U.S.-Russian joint venture between Space Transport Inc. and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center with RSC Energia. ILS has the exclusive rights for worldwide commercial sales and mission management of satellite launches on Russia's premier vehicle, the Proton, and the future Angara vehicle. ILS is incorporated in Delaware in the United States, and is headquartered in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

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Source: ILS News Release Edited November 9, 2006 by Waspie_Dwarf

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Media Advisory: ILS Proton to Launch BADR-4

Payload: BADR-4

Platform: Eurostar E2000+

Separated Mass: Approx. 3,280 kg (7,231 lbs)

Launch Vehicle: Proton M/Breeze M

Weight at liftoff: 691,272 kg (1.5 million lbs), including payload

Height: 61 m (200 ft)

Launch Time: 2:01 a.m., Nov. 9 Baikonur

20:01, Nov. 8 GMT

3:01 p.m., Nov. 8 EST

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan; Launch Pad 39

End User: ARABSAT, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Satellite Manufacturer: Astrium Satellites; Toulouse, France

Launch Vehicle

Manufacturer: Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow

Launch Services

Provider: International Launch Services (ILS), McLean, Va.

Satellite Use: Multipurpose communications satellite serving Arab countries and neighboring regions. Ku-band payload will carry direct-to-home, interactive TV and internet broadband services, with additional capacity to accommodate anticipated demand for high-definition TV.

Satellite Statistics:

� 32 Ku-band transponders

� Orbital Location: 26 degrees East longitude

� Anticipated service life of 15 years

Mission Profile: The Proton launch vehicle will inject the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, using a four-burn Breeze M mission design. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage, with the satellite, into a suborbital trajectory, from which the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit of 173 km (107.5 miles), inclined at 51.5 degrees. Then the satellite will be propelled to its transfer orbit by additional burns of the Breeze M. Following separation from the Breeze M, the spacecraft will perform a series of liquid apogee engine burns to raise perigee, lower inclination and circularize the orbit at the geostationary altitude of 35,786 km (22,236 miles).

Target Orbit

at Separation: Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)

Perigee: 3,150 km (1,957 miles)

Inclination: 14.2 degrees

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 4 hours after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:

� 3rd ILS Proton mission of 2006

� 5th ILS mission overall for 2006

� 7th Proton launch of Astrium Eurostar bus

� 38th ILS mission on Proton

Live Broadcast in North America: The launch may be seen on satellite IA 6 C, transponder 14, orbital position 93 degrees West, C-band analog NTSC, 36 MHz bandwith, downlink frequency 3980 MHz (H).

Live Broadcast In Europe & Middle East: The launch may be seen on satellite NSS7, transponder WHL4/EUH3 channel 1, 9 MHz bandwidth, Ku-band digital PAL, orbital position 338.0 degrees East, downlink frequency 11098.9 horizontal, symbol rate 6.1113, FEC 3/4.

More Information: Live webcast and general mission information are available on the ILS web site at www.ilslaunch.com. Launch status updates are available on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.

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Source: ILS News Release

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The International Launch Services press release is reproduced below:

ILS Proton Successfully Launches ARABSAT's BADR-4 Satellite

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Nov. 9, 2006 - A Russian-built Proton Breeze M vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS) successfully launched a satellite today that will carry direct-to-home television services, together with voice and broadband services, across the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe.

The Proton launcher lifted off at 2:01 a.m. local time in Baikonur (3:01 p.m. Wednesday EST, 20:01 Wednesday GMT). It carried the BADR-4 satellite built by Astrium, which contracted for the launch on behalf of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization, ARABSAT, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ILS is the U.S.-Russian joint venture responsible for worldwide commercial sales and mission management of satellite launches on Russia's premier vehicle, the Proton.

"This was the third ILS Proton flight in 2006, and we're proud to say we delivered the satellite on target," said ILS President Frank McKenna. The satellite is a Eurostar E2000+ model. Protons also have launched five of the heavier Astrium Eurostar E3000 spacecraft.

Antoine Bouvier, Astrium chairman and chief executive officer, said: "I am delighted that ARABSAT's BADR-4 has been injected into transfer orbit by ILS. Astrium has worked tirelessly to ensure that this latest significant step in the development of ARABSAT's business is a resounding success. We look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship with ARABSAT."

"The successful launch of BADR-4 represents the realization of a critical milestone in ARABSAT's new strategic deployment, as well as the company's steadfast commitment to consolidating its historical position as the leading operator of direct-to-home services in the Middle East and North Africa region," said Khalid Balkheyour, ARABSAT's chief executive officer.

"Thanks to the superb combined performance of the Proton launcher and Astrium design and manufacturing, BADR-4 is now the most state-of-the-art satellite to serve the region, providing the 130 million viewers watching our 26 degrees East video 'hot spot' with an unrivalled level of in-orbit reliability and back-up, as well as unprecedented reach serving all of the 324 million inhabitants now fully covered from Morocco and Algeria to the Arabian Gulf with the highest power ever," Balkheyour said.

The Proton vehicle, built by ILS partner Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, has carried out 322 missions for the Russian government and commercial customers over more than 40 years.

ILS is a joint venture between Space Transport Inc. and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center with RSC Energia. ILS is incorporated in Delaware in the United States, and is headquartered in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

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Source: ILS News Release

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Source: ILS News Release

[badeskov]

Source: ILS News Release

That is one impressive mother....I like the picture

Best,

Badeskov