[Satellite TODAY 03-18-10] Telesat signed a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) to launch Telesat’s Nimiq 6 satellite on a Proton rocket in mid-2012, the companies announced March 17.
     The Ku-band Nimiq 6 satellite, under construction by Space Systems/Loral, will be placed at 91 degrees West. Telesat has leased the satellite to Bell TV for the entire life of the spacecraft to serve broadcast subscribers across Canada.
    ILS launched Telesat’s first Nimiq satellite as well as the Nimiq 5 satellite last fall. Financial details of the Nimiq 6 contract were not disclosed.