McLEAN, Va., and OTTAWA, Jan. 17, 2006 – International Launch Services (ILS) and Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite operators, announced today they are teaming up for the fifth time, to launch the Nimiq 4 satellite on a Proton Breeze M vehicle. Financial terms were not disclosed.
ILS, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) joint venture, is scheduled to launch the satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2008. The Nimiq 4 spacecraft is a Eurostar E3000 model built by EADS Astrium, similar to Telesat's Anik F1R satellite launched on a Proton vehicle in September 2005, and the Anik F3 spacecraft set for a Proton launch this year. ILS also launched Nimiq 1 in 1999 and Nimiq 2 in 2002 on Proton vehicles.
"We appreciate Telesat selecting ILS for another mission only four months after its last launch," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "We thank Telesat for its continued confidence, because we know how important the Nimiq and Anik satellites are to their growing business."
The Proton vehicle, built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, has carried out more than 300 missions for the Russian government and commercial customers over 40 years. The rocket has a reliability record of 96 percent, and 100 percent with the Breeze M upper stage.
"When Telesat chooses a launch partner, we look for the same things our customers expect from us: quality, reliability and attention to detail," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat�s president and CEO. "Nimiq 4 is Telesat's 18th satellite, and it will play a key role in our growth strategy. A successful launch is the first step and ILS' track record speaks for itself."
About Telesat — www.telesat.ca
Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today, Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the globe. Telesat is a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and Europe.
About ILS — www.ilslaunch.com
International Launch Services is the global leader in the space launch industry, offering the two best launch systems: Atlas and Proton. With a remarkable launch tempo, the Atlas and Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and flexibility that have made them preferred choice among satellite operators worldwide. ILS, a Lockheed Martin joint venture, was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.
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Contacts:
ForTelesat: Daniel Tisch or Kyla Thoms, Argyle Rowland Communications, Toronto, Ont., Canada; 1-416-968-7311 ext. 223 or 237; dtisch@argylerowland.com/ kthoms@argylerowland.com