BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, May 15, 2013 – International Launch Services (ILS) successfully placed the EUTELSAT 3D satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), today, for Eutelsat Communications of Paris, France. With this mission, ILS, a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry, completed its 80th Proton launch overall and 3rd Proton launch in 2013.

The Proton Breeze M vehicle carrying EUTELSAT 3D launched from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, today, at 22:02 local time(16:02GMT and 12:02 EDT). The satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space on the reliable Spacebus 4000 platform and weighing nearly 5.5 metric tons at liftoff, was released 9 hours and 13 minutes after a standard 5-burn Breeze M mission. This was the 7th Eutelsat satellite launched on a Proton and the 9th Thales Alenia Space Satellite launched on an ILS Proton.

EUTELSAT 3D will initially be located at 3 degrees east longitude, until the launch of EUTELSAT 3B in 2014, at which time it will continue its service at 7 degrees east longitude. From its orbital locations, the satellite will provide resources, reach and flexibility to address the high-growth rate in the video, data, telecom, and broadband markets. This Ku and Ka-band satellite will serve customers across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Since its maiden flight in 1965, this was the 386thaggregate launch for the Proton vehicle, including both Federal and commercial missions. The Proton Breeze M vehicle is developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, Russia’s premier space industry manufacturer and majority shareholder in ILS.

ILS President Phil Slack stated, “The Proton vehicle and Eutelsat partnership dates back 13 years starting with the SESAT-1 launch on Proton in 2000. After seven launches, including the 50th ILS Proton launch in 2009 with the EUTELSAT 10A satellite, we are honored that Eutelsat continues to place their trust in us to enable the expansion of their business. Many thanks to the Eutelsat, Thales Alenia Space, Khrunichev and ILS teams for ensuring mission success with the launch of EUTELSAT 3D.”

Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO, “We thank ILS and Khrunichev for this flawless launch which maintains our perfect track record of success since our first Proton flight in 2000. I’m happy to say that EUTELSAT 3D is well on its way to 3° East, where it will go into service next month. The performance of the Proton launcher gives us the flexibility we need to further increase our resources and commercial flexibility which is highly valued in our business.”