Welcome to the W2A Blog

Welcome to the first ILS Proton launch campaign for 2009 – the launch of the W2A satellite for Eutelsat, built by Thales Alenia Space. Follow along with the launch team as they prepare for the end of march mission.

READ MORE

Welcome to the Nimiq 5 Blog

Welcome to the fifth ILS Proton launch campaign for 2009 – the launch of the Nimiq 5 satellite for Telesat, built by Space Systems/Loral. Follow along with the launch team as they prepare for the mission.

READ MORE

Welcome to the Ciel II Blog

Welcome to the sixth ILS Proton launch campaign for 2008 – the launch of the Ciel II satellite for SES AMERICOM, built by Thales Alenia Space. Follow along with the launch team as they prepare for the December mission.

READ MORE

The Photo Gallery is Up!

The Inmarsat-4 F3 Photo Gallery is up. In addition to photos being placed within the blogs, most photos will be placed in the gallery. So, please check it out at http://www.ilslaunch.com/inmarsat-4-f3-gallery

READ MORE

Reflections from a first timer in Baikonur

On the 5th, after completing a full day’s work, we moved on to the Proton Club auditorium where our campaign security manager presented the safety and security briefing. Following the briefing, we headed back to the Fili Hotel for a belated Independence Day BBQ. It was a fantastic way to bring all the launch campaign personnel together so that we could get to know the other people that will help make this launch a success. In short, it was a great team-building exercise! From a newbie’s perspective, it was great to have more quality time with people. At work everyone is concentrating on the jobs at hand and there is little time for chatter. This BBQ was a great way to see other sides of people and to get to know them on a more personal level and to find out how they got into the space industry. Even with the different languages being spoken, we all managed to come away with new friends and better understanding of each other. *~* On the 6th, the SC landed at Yublieiny Airfield. I just wanted to finally be able to see what the SC looks like and if it’s really as big as I have been told. I was in no way, shape or form let down. *~* Oh and about the spacecraft… Electrical and propulsion testing have already started. Photos soon…promise

READ MORE

What a Weekend

The ILS launch team has settled in at Baikonur. Team members report that they celebrated Independence Day by reading Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence on the way to Yubileiny Airport at 0800 to offload the satellite test equipment, and then working until 1830. They had a picnic the following day to commemorate the holiday. Meanwhile, the spacecraft has landed! Early Sunday morning the Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite arrived at Yubileiny Airport aboard an AN-124-100 Ruslan aircraft owned by Russia’s Polyet cargo airlines. The satellite was taken to Building 92A-50 for assembly and testing. Everything else is going up to par, as well. Pictures soon, as well as some first-hand reports from the launch team…

READ MORE

Welcome to the Inmarsat-4 F3 Blog

Welcome to the third ILS Proton launch campaign for 2008 – the launch of the EADS Astrium-built Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite for Inmarsat of London. Follow along with the launch team as they prepare for the mid-August mission.

READ MORE

ILS Reception

ILS held a well-attended reception Monday night for customers at the DAR Constitution Hall. About 75-80 guests were there to enjoy the food and camaraderie. They also had the opportunity to tour the historic location, as well as enjoy the beautiful view of the Washington monument nearby.
[img]http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/Images/Media/Satellite-08-BLOG/recptpic1.jpg[/img]

READ MORE

Panel discussions

Frank McKenna, president of International Launch Services (ILS), took part in a very full panel Tuesday on “Launch Services: Pressure to Perform.” It also included his counterparts from several other launch providers, as well as satellite operators SES and Intelsat, and satellite manufacturers Orbital and Lockheed Martin. All were asked, “What is the most significant problem facing the industry today?”
Frank’s opinion: there must be a focus on performance. He cited the recent accomplishment of 6 successful Proton launches in less than 4 months. He noted that the launch business requires significant investment in infrastructure, and said the challenge is how to maintain a financially viable launch industry.

READ MORE

Contact Us!

For the latest news and information, or if you have a question, please email ILS at contactus@ilslaunch.com