International Launch Services (ILS) is phasing out its fleet of Lockheed Martin Atlas III commercial boosters in 2003-4 once the Atlas V is fully operational.
The first Atlas IIIA booster flew in May 2000, but the launcher has not flown since. The next Atlas III mission - possibly in December using a IIIB version with two Centaur upper-stage engines - is due to carry the Echostar VII satellite.
Other satellites pencilled in for IIIA and IIIB launches in 2002-2003, include Asiasat 4 in early 2002, says ILS. The Atlas III orderbook also includes US Navy and National Reconnaisance Office payloads, but ILS confirms that the launcher will be dropped by 2004.
"The reason we haven't had an Atlas III flight since May 2000 is that recent customers had booked Atlas II versions," says the company, denying unofficial reports of concerns about the vibration levels on the Atlas IIIA maiden flight.
The Atlas III was intended as a transitional vehicle to the Atlas V, primarily to test out technologies such as the Russian RD-180 engine. "We have already flight-proven 80% of these technologies on the first flight," says ILS. Development of the Atlas III was announced in November 1995.
The Atlas V was built with funding under the US Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle programme. The contract was awarded in October 1998.
The first flight of the Atlas V will likely carry a Eutelsat satellite, Hot Bird 6, in May 2002.
The contract involves a similar reduced price and insurance arrangement to that used for the Atlas IIIA maiden flight.
Source: Flight International