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16 May 2003

ILS Proton to Launch AMC-9 Satellite
Media Advisory

Payload: AMC-9
Spacebus 3000B3 platform
Separated mass: approx. 4,100 kg (9,039 lbs)

Launch Vehicle: Proton K/Breeze M
Weight at liftoff: 691,272 kg (1.5 million lbs), including payload
Height: 61 m (200 ft)

Launch Date: May 20, 2003 (Baikonur)
May 19, 2003 (GMT, U.S.)

Launch Window Opens: 4:15 a.m. Baikonur
22:15 GMT
6:15 p.m. EDT

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39

End User: SES AMERICOM, Princeton, N.J.
Part of SES GLOBAL family of companies

Satellite Manufacturer: Alcatel Space, Cannes, France

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer: Khrunichev State Research and Production
Space Center, Moscow

Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services, McLean, Va.

Satellite Use: High-power communications satellite operating at C-
and Ku-band to expand digital television broadcasting, data
transmission and telecommunications services to North America

Satellite Statistics:

1st delivery-in-orbit launch for Alcatel by ILS

8th Alcatel satellite launched by ILS

5th ILS launch for AMERICOM

Orbital location: 85 degrees West longitude

Anticipated service life of 15 years

Mission Profile: The Proton launch vehicle will inject the satellite
into geosynchronous transfer orbit, using a five-burn Breeze M
mission design. The first three stages of the Proton will use a
standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage, with
the satellite, into a suborbital trajectory, from which the Breeze M
will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit of
180 km (112 miles), inclined at 51.6 degrees. Then the satellite will
be propelled to its transfer orbit by additional burns of the Breeze
M. Following separation from the Breeze M, the spacecraft will
perform a series of liquid apogee engine burns to raise perigee,
lower inclination and circularize the orbit at the geostationary
altitude of 36,000 km (22,300 miles).

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 8 hours, 55 minutes after
liftoff 

ILS Mission Statistics:

300th Proton launch

1st Proton mission this year

3rd ILS mission this year

27th ILS mission on Proton since formation of the U.S.-Russian joint
venture in 1995

2nd ILS launch in one week

Live Broadcast in U.S.: AMC-4, 101 degrees West, analog, transponder
22/C-band, downlink 4140MHz (H); digital, transponder 21/Ku-band,
downlink 12120 MHz (V), FEC 3/4, 30 Msyms.

Test signals start at 5:30 p.m. May 19 EDT

Live Broadcast in Europe: ASTRA 1G, 19.2 degrees East, transponder
108, downlink 12551 MHz (V), FEC 5/6

Live Broadcast in Asia: Spacenet 4, 172 degrees East, digital,
transponder 11/C-band, downlink 3913.5 MHz (H), FEC 3/4, 6.11 Msyms

More Information: Live webcast and general mission information are
available on the ILS web site. Launch status updates are available on
the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.

CONTACT: Fran Slimmer, ILS, McLean, Va.;+1-571-633-7462, mobile:
+1-646-229-4801; fran.slimmer{at}lmco.com

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