Posted: Tue, Jan 15, 2002, 8:45 PM ET (0145 GMT)
Intelsat announced Tuesday that it has signed agreements with International Launch Services and Boeing to launch the next generation of its communications satellites. Under the deals, one Intelsat 10 spacecraft will be launched on a Russian Proton M/Breeze M booster provided by ILS, and another on a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL provided by Boeing Launch Services (BLS). The two spacecraft, named Intelsat 10-01 and 10-02, are Eurostar 3000 spacecraft built by Astrium, each weighing approximately 5,000 kg. The spacecraft will be launched in 2003, although Intelsat did not designate which spacecraft will be launched on which booster. ILS and BLS beat out Arianespace, whose Ariane 5 is the only other booster in commercial service today that could launch the heavy Intelsat 10 spacecraft.

Related Links:

•  Intelsat press release
•  Boeing press release
•  ILS press release