Land Launch Receives Contract Award from Israel Aircraft Industries
Space International Services and Sea Launch Company are pleased to announce the award of a firm launch contract with Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., utilizing the Land Launch system.
The delivery-in-orbit (DIO) agreement requires a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch the AMOS-3 communications satellite to geostationary orbit from the Land Launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in the 4th Quarter of 2007. The AMOS-3 spacecraft will have both Ku-band and Ka-band transponders and will consist of fixed as well as steerable beams, to provide broadcast and communications services to Europe, the Middle East and the East Coast of the United States. It has a planned operational lifetime of 12 years.
Built by Israel Aircraft Industries' MBT Space Division, AMOS-3 will be located at a final orbital position of 4 degrees West Longitude, where it will join existing co-located satellites AMOS-1 and AMOS-2. AMOS-3 eventually will replace AMOS-1 when it comes to its operational end-of-life, currently expected in 2008. The AMOS system is owned and operated by Space-Communication Ltd. (Spacecom).
As with other Land Launch missions, this third commercial mission under contract for launch in 2007 will have both the satellite and the launch vehicle processed and launched from existing Zenit processing and launch facilities at the Baikonur launch complex. Optimizing on heritage hardware, systems and expertise, Land Launch uses a Zenit-3SLB version of the reliable Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket.
About Land Launch: Land Launch is based on the collaboration of the Sea Launch Company and Space International Services (SIS), both international companies, to meet the launch needs of an emerging market for dedicated commercial launches in the medium spacecraft mass range. Sea Launch and SIS provide commercial customers with mission management. SIS is also responsible for hardware production and launch operations. For additional information, please go to: www.sea-launch.com/land-launch/index.html
About Space International Services: Space International Services is a Moscow-based venture, founded by SDO Yuzhnoye and PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine, RSC Energia, the Design Bureau of Transport Machinery (KBTM), TseNKI (Center for Ground-based Space Infrastructure) and Ural Mining and Metallurgy Company (OAO UGMK) of Russia, with the firm support of the Russian Federal Space Agency, headed by Mr. A. N. Perminov.
About Sea Launch Company: Sea Launch Company, LLC, based in Long Beach, Calif., provides reliable heavy lift launch services to commercial satellite customers. Its international partners include Boeing (U.S.), Aker ASA (Norway), RSC Energia (Russia) and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash (Ukraine). With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the reliable Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch is building a legacy, with one successful launch, one satisfied customer, at a time. For additional information, please visit: www.sea-launch.com
About Israel Aircraft Industries: Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is Israel's largest industrial exporter and a globally recognized leader for defense and commercial markets. IAI provides unique and cost-effective technological solutions for a broad spectrum of needs in space, air, land, sea and homeland defense. IAI is an established leader in a vast number of fields, including: design, production and certification of executive and business jets, maintenance and conversions of commercial aircraft, unmanned air and ground vehicles, radars, EW, anti-tactical ballistic missiles (ATBM), electro-optical and radar payloads, navigation satellites, communication satellites, observation satellites and satellite ground control stations. For additional information, please visit: www.iai.co.il
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