The mission poster for Hispasat 1C launch aboard an Atlas rocket in February. Photo: ILS

Hispasat S.A. has contracted with International Launch Services (ILS) for lofting its Hispasat 1D satellite aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS. ILS successfully launched the Hispasat 1C satellite for Madrid-based Hispasat in February 2000 also aboard an Atlas 2AS.

"We're delighted to have Hispasat as a repeat customer. This contract reaffirms our commitment to establishing long-term relationships with our customers and is a testament to our long history of working with the Spanish space industry," said Dr. Mark J. Albrecht, ILS President. "2000 has been a terrific year for ILS with 14 firm contracts signed to date."

The Hispasat 1D spacecraft, an Alcatel Space Industries Spacebus 3000, is scheduled for launch in the third quarter 2002. It will join the Hispasat 1A, 1B and 1C satellites in providing satellite communication and direct-to-home television services to Europe, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas.

Headquartered in McLean, VA USA, International Launch Services is a joint venture stock company established in 1995 to jointly market the Russian-built Proton and the Lockheed Martin-built Atlas to the worldwide satellite launch market. The company currently offers the broadest range of launcher products in the world along with the highest reliability in the industry. ILS is owned by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS) and the Lockheed Khrunichev Energia International (LKEI) joint venture.