BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Mar. 18, 2009 — A Proton M launch vehicle (LV) has been shipped from Khrunichev’s production facilities in Moscow, Russia to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The LV will be readied for the IndoStar II/ ProtoStar II satellite launch scheduled for early May. The telecommunications satellite built by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) will be injected into a geosynchronous transfer orbit by the Breeze M upper stage and eventually moved into a geostationary orbit by BSS.
The upcoming mission will be the second of the year for International Launch Services (ILS), following the W2A satellite launch, which will mark the 50th ILS Proton launch. The satellite will also be the second satellite each for Indovision of Indonesia and ProtoStar Ltd. of Bermuda.
The Proton, produced by Khrunichev Space Center (KhSC), has been in operation since 1965. With over 340 launches, the Proton delivers both Russian and commercial payloads into orbit.
ILS has exclusive rights to market the Proton, Russia’s premier heavy-lift vehicle, to commercial satellite operators worldwide. ILS is a U.S. company located in Reston, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The majority interest holder is KhSC, the manufacturer of the Proton. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.