Russian Rocket To Put French Satellite Into Orbit

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) – The Russian-U.S. International Launch Services (ILS) company has signed a contract on using a Russian Proton carrier rocket to put a French satellite into orbit, reads a press release circulated by the Khrunichev research and production center on Thursday.

“As part of a contract with France’s Alcatel Space company, a WORLDSAT 3 satellite will be put into its designated orbit by a Proton carrier rocket, which will take off from the Baikonur launching pad at the end of 2005,” the press release says.

This “launch will be carried out in the interests of a major satellite communication provider: the U.S. Americom SES Inc. company, which is a member of the SES Global holding,” the document reads.

SES Americom satellites provide communication services to North and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean area. The WORLDSAT 3 satellite has been developed by Alcatel Space for WORLDSAT, a SES Americom Inc. subsidiary.

The WORLDSAT 3 is Alcatel Space’s fourth satellite to be put into orbit by a Russian Proton rocket.