Tim Furniss/LONDON
International Launch Services (ILS) has been booked to fly two commercial launches for Echostar Communications, including the first launch by the Atlas IIIB. The contract includes options for future launches through to 2006.
The Lockheed Martin-built direct broadcast satellite (DBS), Echostar VII, will be launched late this year aboard the Atlas IIIB. Meanwhile, the Russian Proton K will launch Echostar VIII, built by Space Systems/Loral, in early 2002. ILS is a joint venture operated by Lockheed Martin with Russian companies Energia and Khrunichev.
"The IIIB will be the second Atlas III flight, though it does not preclude us from signing someone else up between now and the end of the year," says ILS. The first Atlas III model - a IIIA - was launched successfully last May.
The Atlas III is powered by a modified, throttleable Russian RD-170 liquid oxygen-kerosene engine. Designated the RD-180, it is built by the NPO Energomash/ Pratt & Whitney joint company, RD AMROSS. The Atlas IIIA is powered by a single P&W-built RL-10E liquid oxygen-liquid hydrogen engine on its Centaur second stage, while the IIIB uses two RL-10s. The IIIA can carry 4,037kg (8,900lb) to geostationary transfer orbit, while the IIIB increases this to 4,500kg.
ILS has not released its full launch schedule for 2001, but the first launch will be that of a Russian Proton K carrying a PanAmSat communications satellite in April.
"There are a few customers who don't want things disclosed yet and some deals are in negotiation," says ILS.
Both of the ILS-launched Echostar satellites will be equipped with 32 transponders and will be located, respectively, at 119°W and 110°W in geostationary orbit.
ILS has launched four Echostar satellites on Atlas and Proton boosters. Earlier it received an order for two Proton launches of Astra DBS craft from Luxembourg's Société Europeènne des Satellites (Flight International, 30 January-5 February).
NASA has exercised an option in its Medium Light (Med-Lite) contract with Boeing, signed in 1996, for the $56 million launch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-N) polar orbiting satellite from Vandenberg AFB, California in January 2003. It will be the first NOAA satellite launch by a Delta booster. Other launches were made by Atlas E and Titan II rockets.Source: Flight International
