[Satellite TODAY 02-12-10] International Launch Services (ILS) will launch SES-3 alongside the Kazsat-2 telecoms satellite in 2011, the first mission for ILS with a pair of payloads on board, ILS and SES confirmed Feb. 11.
    The SES-3 satellite is the third of the company’s multi-satellite procurement agreement with Orbital Sciences, intended to replace existing spacecraft over the Americas.
    “ILS and SES have partnered in many industry firsts, including the first commercial Proton launch and the unique Multi-Launch Agreement to ensure access to space. Now, ILS will celebrate another launch milestone with SES with the shared launch of the SES-3 satellite on ILS Proton. This shared launch provides an alternative launch option that previously did not exist in the commercial launch market,” ILS president Frank McKenna said in a statement.
    In February 2009, a Russian government Proton performed a dual launch, carrying the Express-AM44 and Express MD1 satellites.

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