WASHINGTON -- International Launch Services (ILS), McLean, Virginia, has signed a contract to launch two satellites for Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) of Luxembourg on a Russian-built Proton rocket, ILS announced Jan. 22.
The satellites, Astra 2C and Astra 1K, are scheduled for launch in June and December, respectively, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
SES operates Astra, a European direct-to-home satellite system with 11 satellites. Astra 2C, built by Boeing Satellite Services, will provide digital services across Europe in Ku-band. Astra 1K, built by Alcatel Space, will provide Ka- and Ku-band services.
ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Maryland; Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow; and Rocket System Corporation Energia of Korolev, Russia. The venture offers launches on Russia's Proton and Lockheed Martin's Atlas-series rockets.
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