ILS Closes out 2003 with 6 Successful Launches, 11 New Awards

LAUNCH PAD

ILS Closes Out 2003 with Six Launches, Eleven Orders

and there goes another one

Mclean Jan. 6, 2004--International Launch
Services (ILS) wrapped up an outstanding year in 2003, having launched six times, won contracts for 11 new missions and received nine additional assignments for future U.S. government launches.

The six 2003 missions consisted of five launches with various configurations of the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas rocket, and one flight with the Khrunichev-built Proton vehicle using the Breeze M upper stage. ILS, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Russia's Khrunichev, markets the Atlas and Proton vehicles to satellite operators worldwide.

"It was another excellent year," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "Not only did we have 100 percent success on our launches, but we captured more than 50 percent of the new government and commercial orders in our addressable market. Further, we captured seven of the 16 commercial competitive new orders, more than any other launch service provider. Our team worked hard in a very competitive environment, and it helps when you have the two best vehicles available, with Atlas and Proton."

ILS received contracts for seven commercial Proton launches for customers in the United States, Europe, Asia and Middle East. In addition, NASA ordered an Atlas V vehicle for its Pluto New Horizons mission. The U.S. Air Force authorized three Atlas V missions awarded under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.

Under the EELV program, ILS was originally awarded seven missions. The Air Force assigned three additional missions to ILS this summer, and reassigned seven others to ILS. In December, the Air Force made an additional sole-source award to ILS, for a total of 18 EELV assignments.

LAUNCH PAD

XTAR Selects Arianespace To Launch The XTAR-EUR Satellite

Washington - Dec 19, 2003
XTAR, a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and HISDESAT, S.A., announced Thursday that it has entered into an agreement with Arianespace to launch its XTAR-EUR satellite aboard an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle. The XTAR-EUR satellite is now undergoing final testing at Space System/Loral (SS/L) in Palo Alto, CA. The launch of XTAR-EUR is currently planned for early second quarter 2004.

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