BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, September 15, 2009 – The Proton M/ Breeze M integrated launch vehicle (ILV) designated for the launch of the Nimiq 5 telecommunications satellite has been erected on Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Launch rehearsal also completed nominally.

Built by Space Systems/Loral for Telesat, the spacecraft is scheduled to liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 01:19 local time, 18 September. Nimiq 5 will deliver direct-to-home services across Canada and the continental United States.

The Proton booster and the Breeze M upper stage are developed by Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow, the majority stakeholder in ILS International Launch Services, Inc. (ILS). ILS has exclusive rights to commercially market the Proton vehicle.

The upcoming launch will be second of three within nine days at the Cosmodrome. The first being the Soyuz launch of the Meteor-M satellite on 16 September, the third will be the Proton M launch of the Glonass satellites on 25 September. This will also be the fifth ILS Proton launch, as well as the seventh Proton launch overall this year.