[Satellite TODAY 05-15-13] International Launch Services (ILS) and satellite operator Eutelsat, of Paris, France, have announced a new contract for the launch of a Eutelsat satellite.

 

    The launch is expected to occur between 2014 and 2016 aboard an ILS Proton from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This announcement follows the successful Proton launch of the Eutelsat 3D satellite on May 15.

 

    The Proton vehicle is a heavy-lift rocket with a history of 386 launches since 1965. The Proton launch vehicle is built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center, the majority shareholder of ILS.

 

     “With this launch, Eutelsat is relying on performance of the Proton vehicle just as we demonstrated with yesterday’s successful launch of the Eutelsat 3D satellite,” Phil Slack, president of ILS said. “We now have seven launches to date for Eutelsat over our 13 year partnership. ILS and Khrunichev are looking forward to delivering on our commitments for Eutelsat and continuing to support their plans for growth and expansion with the launch of this mission.”