Posted: Mon, Nov 3, 2003, 6:28 PM ET (2328 GMT)
International Launch Services (ILS) announced Monday that the Air Force has authorized it to begin preparations for the second military launch on an Atlas 5. Under the authorization ILS can begin integrating the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite 3 (WGS-3) for an Atlas 5 launch in early 2006. Earlier this year the Air Force gave a similar authorization for the Atlas 5 launch of WGS-2 in late 2005, which will be the first military launch of the Atlas 5. ILS also won a contract earlier this year to launch NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto in 2006, and also switched a previously-awarded contract to launch NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter from an Atlas 3 to an Atlas 5. The Atlas 5 has carried out three launches since August 2002, all for commercial customers. ILS and Lockheed Martin plan to rely more on military and civil government customers for the Atlas 5, though, due to the tight commercial launch market.

Related Links:

•  ILS press release