ILS International Launch Services of San Diego, California, will launch Spain's Hispasat 1C communications satellite into orbit aboard an Atlas 2AS from Cape Canaveral in late 1999. The satellite is being built by Aerospatiale. Two Matra Marconi Space-built Hispasats were launched aboard Ariane boosters. The ILS Atlas fleet has 24 launch commitments. The failure of the ILS Russian Proton to orbit the Asiasat 3 satellite on 24 December, 1997, was caused by a faulty gasket in the fuel-pump turbine, it was announced on 28 January.
Source: Flight International