Jacques van Oene
October 15th 04, 06:40 PM
LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT AMC-15 SATELLITE LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY FROM BAIKONUR
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN, October 15, 2004
The AMC-15 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed
Martin [NYSE: LMT] for SES AMERICOM, was successfully launched today from
the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred
Oct. 14 at 5:23 p.m. EDT aboard a Proton rocket provided by International
Launch Services (ILS). Initial contact with the satellite was confirmed at
2:52 a.m. EDT from the Lockheed Martin satellite tracking station in Uralla,
Australia.
AMC-15 features one of America's first payloads operating at Ka-band
frequencies, comprising 12 125-MHz Ka-band spot beams. AMC-15 also features
24 36-MHz transponders of Ku-band capacity. SES AMERICOM has an agreement
with EchoStar Communications, Inc., a leading U.S. direct broadcast system
operator, to use both payloads on AMC-15.
Based on Lockheed Martin's A2100AX satellite model, AMC-15 also represents
the third of four satellites Lockheed Martin will deliver this year to SES
AMERICOM. AMC-10 and AMC-11 were successfully launched on Atlas IIAS
vehicles in February and May 2004, and AMC-16 is scheduled to be launched on
an Atlas V in December 2004.
"AMC-15 marks the 11th A2100 delivered to SES AMERICOM since the maiden
flight of AMC-1 in September 1996. It also represents the 25th A2100 in
orbit," said Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) President Ted
Gavrilis. "The outstanding commitment and dedication on behalf of the
Lockheed Martin team has been fundamental in achieving this remarkable
record. Once again, Lockheed Martin has delivered mission success for SES
AMERICOM, one of our most esteemed and long-time customers."
In recognition of the A2100's reliability, Lockheed Martin received a 2003
award for "Product of the Year," from Frost & Sullivan, an independent
research company. Calling it "the most reliable and efficient of its
class," Frost & Sullivan recognized the LMCSS-built A2100 satellite platform
for its "outstanding on-orbit reliability record since it was first offered
in 1996." In a recent updated report, Frost & Sullivan concluded that "the
A2100 (is) the most reliable satellite now available for a majority of
satellite applications."
The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to
meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband
and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band
payload configurations, high-power direct broadcast services using the
Ku-band frequency spectrum, and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band,
and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features a reduction in
parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced
weight and cost.
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc.
is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services.
Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Department
of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16 spacecraft in
orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas.
As a member of the SES GLOBAL family (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and
Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end
telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. In 2001, the
company established AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary
dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both
civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. In 2003, SES AMERICOM
formed WORLDSAT, a wholly owned subsidiary that markets capacity on four
satellites covering Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and
connecting premier regional
satellite fleets. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves
broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications
integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks,
government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global
data networks with efficient communication and content distribution
solutions.
About International Launch Services (ILS)
ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev State Research and
Production Space Center of Russia. ILS has established itself as the
indisputable launch services leader by offering the industry's two best
launch systems: Khrunichev's Proton and the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas.
With a remarkable launch rate of 67 missions since 2000, the Atlas and
Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and
flexibility that have made them the vehicles of choice. Since the beginning
of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all its
competitors combined. ILS was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va.,
a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Contact:
Dee Valleras, 215-275-1874; e-mail,
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people
worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and
services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.
--
---------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN, October 15, 2004
The AMC-15 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed
Martin [NYSE: LMT] for SES AMERICOM, was successfully launched today from
the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred
Oct. 14 at 5:23 p.m. EDT aboard a Proton rocket provided by International
Launch Services (ILS). Initial contact with the satellite was confirmed at
2:52 a.m. EDT from the Lockheed Martin satellite tracking station in Uralla,
Australia.
AMC-15 features one of America's first payloads operating at Ka-band
frequencies, comprising 12 125-MHz Ka-band spot beams. AMC-15 also features
24 36-MHz transponders of Ku-band capacity. SES AMERICOM has an agreement
with EchoStar Communications, Inc., a leading U.S. direct broadcast system
operator, to use both payloads on AMC-15.
Based on Lockheed Martin's A2100AX satellite model, AMC-15 also represents
the third of four satellites Lockheed Martin will deliver this year to SES
AMERICOM. AMC-10 and AMC-11 were successfully launched on Atlas IIAS
vehicles in February and May 2004, and AMC-16 is scheduled to be launched on
an Atlas V in December 2004.
"AMC-15 marks the 11th A2100 delivered to SES AMERICOM since the maiden
flight of AMC-1 in September 1996. It also represents the 25th A2100 in
orbit," said Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) President Ted
Gavrilis. "The outstanding commitment and dedication on behalf of the
Lockheed Martin team has been fundamental in achieving this remarkable
record. Once again, Lockheed Martin has delivered mission success for SES
AMERICOM, one of our most esteemed and long-time customers."
In recognition of the A2100's reliability, Lockheed Martin received a 2003
award for "Product of the Year," from Frost & Sullivan, an independent
research company. Calling it "the most reliable and efficient of its
class," Frost & Sullivan recognized the LMCSS-built A2100 satellite platform
for its "outstanding on-orbit reliability record since it was first offered
in 1996." In a recent updated report, Frost & Sullivan concluded that "the
A2100 (is) the most reliable satellite now available for a majority of
satellite applications."
The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to
meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband
and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band
payload configurations, high-power direct broadcast services using the
Ku-band frequency spectrum, and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band,
and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features a reduction in
parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced
weight and cost.
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc.
is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services.
Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Department
of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16 spacecraft in
orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas.
As a member of the SES GLOBAL family (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and
Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end
telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. In 2001, the
company established AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary
dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both
civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. In 2003, SES AMERICOM
formed WORLDSAT, a wholly owned subsidiary that markets capacity on four
satellites covering Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and
connecting premier regional
satellite fleets. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves
broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications
integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks,
government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global
data networks with efficient communication and content distribution
solutions.
About International Launch Services (ILS)
ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev State Research and
Production Space Center of Russia. ILS has established itself as the
indisputable launch services leader by offering the industry's two best
launch systems: Khrunichev's Proton and the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas.
With a remarkable launch rate of 67 missions since 2000, the Atlas and
Proton launch vehicles have consistently demonstrated the reliability and
flexibility that have made them the vehicles of choice. Since the beginning
of 2003, ILS has signed more new commercial contracts than all its
competitors combined. ILS was formed in 1995, and is based in McLean, Va.,
a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Contact:
Dee Valleras, 215-275-1874; e-mail,
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people
worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and
services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.
--
---------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info