Space

Intelsat To Purchase Atlas V Launch Vehicle From ILS

McLean, Va, May 11th, 2004 -- International Launch Services (ILS) announced today that Intelsat has agreed to purchase an Atlas V rocket for the launch of a future satellite. Financial terms were not disclosed.

This is the third Atlas V launch ordered from ILS this year. ILS leads the launch services market, having captured awards for seven launches using both of its vehicles, the Lockheed Martin-built [NYSE:LMT] Atlas rocket and the Proton vehicle from Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia. This Atlas launch order is part of a broader transaction between Intelsat and Lockheed Martin.

"We look forward to another launch with Intelsat," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "Intelsat is the largest commercial customer of Atlas vehicles, having launched 30 satellites since January 1971."

In addition, ILS is launching the Intelsat 10-02 satellite next month on its Proton vehicle. Another Proton rocket launched the Intelsat 903 satellite two years ago.

ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev. It was formed in 1995 to provide launch services to customers worldwide on the Atlas and Proton vehicles. Headquartered near Washington, D.C., ILS offers the broadest range of launch services in the world along with the highest reliability in the industry.

Fran Slimmer, International Launch Services, McLean, Va.; 1-571-633-7462; mobile: 1-646-229-4801; fran.slimmer@lmco.com