spacetoday.net: ILS to launch JSAT spacecraft on Proton

Posted: Tue, Feb 7, 2006, 6:44 AM ET (1144 GMT)
Proton carrying DirecTV 8 erected on launch pad (ILS)

International Launch Services announced Monday that it had signed a contract for the launch of a communications satellite with a Japanese satellite operator. ILS will launch the JCSAT-11 satellite for JSAT on a Proton-M in 2007. As is customary, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. JCSAT-11, a Lockheed Martin A2100AX-model spacecraft, will carry Ku- and C-band transponders to provide broadcasting services. The contract is the fourth that JSAT has signed with ILS, although the three previous launches were all on Atlas vehicles. Neither JSAT nor ILS officials explained why the company had switched to the Proton; JSAT will be the first Japanese company to fly a satellite on the Russian launcher.