ILS Announces the Launch of Fourth SES Satellite in 2011

U.S. based company ILS International Launch Services is reportedly offering mission and launch services for global satellite operators. Having rights for worldwide commercial sales and mission management of satellite launches on Russia's premier vehicle, the Proton, with SES, a network of satellite operators, the company announced that the fourth SES (News - Alert) Satellite, QuetzSat-1 on an ILS Proton will launch in 2011. 

 

“We are pleased that ILS is partnering with SES, Space Systems/Loral and EchoStar in the QuetzSat-1 mission and look forward to a flawless, on-time and on-spec launch for QuetzSat-1 with ILS Proton,” said Martin Halliwell, president of SES ENGINEERING, the procurement and operations division of SES, in a statement.

 

Currently under construction by Space Systems/Loral on the flight-proven SS/L 1300, the QuetzSat-1 is said to be a high power Ku-band satellite that will be located at the orbital position of 77 degrees west. It will provide coverage over Mexico, North America and Central America. Reportedly, the satellite is fully contracted to a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation and will be used in part by Dish Mexico, an EchoStar joint venture, for DTH services in Mexico.

 

The satellite is built on behalf of SES Satellite Leasing Limited in the Isle of Man.

 

ILS also said that EchoStar and its Satellite Services division is also likely to provide capacity on QuetzSat-1 to a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation for use in connection with its U.S. DTH business.

 

“ILS is dedicated to the success of SES and its customer, EchoStar, with the selection of ILS Proton to launch QuetzSat-1,” said Frank McKenna, president of ILS, in a statement “This is the fourth SES satellite entrusted to ILS this year, and we look forward to providing outstanding quality, service and schedule assurance to support the continued growth of the SES satellite fleet.”