ILS Proton to Launch Ciel-2 Satellite to Serve North America

[Chris Bergin]

International Launch
Services (ILS) has signed a contract for the launch of the Ciel-2
satellite on a Proton Breeze M vehicle in late 2008. Financial details
were not disclosed.

    The Ciel-2 satellite will be the inaugural launch undertaken by
the Ciel Satellite Group, Canada's newest satellite operator. SES
AMERICOM Inc., a minority partner in Ciel, was the contracting agent
for the launch.

    "This award is a very important win for us," said Frank McKenna,
ILS president. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to assist Ciel
Satellite in bringing new services to Canada and the rest of North
America. We also welcome the expertise of SES AMERICOM, who assisted
with the contract on behalf of Ciel. The SES family is a long-time,
valued customer, for whom we have launched 11 satellites successfully
on Proton."

    Ciel 2 is a Spacebus 4000 C4 model satellite, the largest Spacebus
class satellite built by Alcatel Alenia, with a mass of 5,575 kg. From
its assigned orbital position of 129 degrees West longitude, the
high-powered Ku-band spacecraft will deliver a variety of
communications services throughout Canada and the larger North
American market.

    "Ciel is absolutely thrilled to be working with ILS on the launch
campaign for Ciel-2," said David Lewis, president and chief executive
officer of the Ciel Group. "Together the tremendous operational
experience of the ILS team and the unmatched depth of our technical
adviser, SES AMERICOM, offer Ciel the best possible support leading to
the successful and timely delivery of Ciel-2 for operations at 129
degrees West."

    The Proton vehicle, built by ILS partner Khrunichev State Research
and Production Space Center of Russia, has carried out more than 320
missions for the Russian government and commercial customers over more
than 40 years. The Proton launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan.

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

    The Ciel Satellite Group is a Canadian-owned and controlled
satellite operator with a strong combination of partners, including
BPC Telecommunications Corp., a company controlled by Borealis
Infrastructure and part of the OMERS Pension Plan's group of
companies; Canadian satellite pioneer Brian Neill; and SES AMERICOM
Inc., an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock
Exchange:SESG), a worldwide leader in the satellite industry.

[sammie]

First new contract after LM and ILS split, McKenna promised to announce another contract shortly. Congrats...

[Pete at Edwards]

Contracting agent. This is interesting. Normal or not, as I've never seen a reference to an agent who arranges the contract before.

[Andy L]

Good to see the ULA didn't kill ILS, although they will be on Protons only now?

[Carl G]

Proton's aren't all that competitive on costs are they? Or did I have that the wrong way around with their Atlas launches?

[meiza]

ILS did most launches on protons.

[Mark Max Q]

Good luck to ILS.

[Chris Bergin]

See next comment....

[Chris Bergin]

EchoStar have "have no additional comments to provide at this time."

[Pete at Edwards]

They don't know what satellite the launch is contracted for?