Posted: Fri, Sep 5, 2003, 10:52 AM ET (1452 GMT)
International Launch Services (ILS) announced Friday that it has won a contract to launch a Malaysian communications satellite in 2005. ILS said that a Proton M booster will launch the MEASAT-3 satellite for Binariang Satellite Systems in 2005. Binariang awarded Boeing a contract for the satellite, a Boeing 601 model, earlier this year. ILS did not divulge the value of the launch contract, however, Binariang indicated in a filing with Malaysian regulators that it will pay $48.7 million for the launch, substantially below previous public estimates for Proton launch costs. The filings also indicated that the launch would take place between May and November of 2005.

Related Links:

•  Dow Jones article
•  Reuters article
•  ILS press release