SES GLOBAL CONTRACTS SEA LAUNCH FOR AMC-21 SATELLITE

[BGonaSTICK]

First mission on Land Launch for SES Group of satellite operators

SES GLOBAL (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announces that it has contracted with the Sea Launch Company for a mission on its Land Launch system, to send the AMC-21 spacecraft into orbit in mid-2008.

Land Launch will use a Zenit-3SLB vehicle to launch the AMC-21 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit from the Land Launch site at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. Both the satellite and the launch vehicle will be integrated and launched from the Zenit processing and launch facilities at the Baikonur complex. Optimizing on heritage hardware, systems and expertise, Land Launch uses a Zenit-3SLB version of the reliable Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket.

Weighing about 2,500 kilograms at launch, AMC-21 is being manufactured by Alcatel Alenia Space. The satellite will be built on the small-sized spacecraft platform STAR-2 of Orbital Sciences Corporation. AMC-21 will feature 24 Ku-band transponders, operate from orbital location of 125° West, and provide coverage of the United States and the Caribbean. The satellite will be operated and marketed by SES AMERICOM.

States Dany Harel, VP, Space Systems and Operations at SES AMERICOM, “SES is pleased to add Land Launch to the roster of its launch services providers and is confident that the robust Zenit-3SLB booster, in combination with Sea Launch’s outstanding expertise in innovative launch solutions, will be instrumental to the success of the AMC-21 mission.”

“We are delighted to be launching the AMC-21 satellite for SES,” said Rob Peckham, interim president and general manager for Sea Launch. “This contract is a strong demonstration of our reputation for meeting our customers’ requirements and supporting their business goals. We look forward to honoring the confidence SES has entrusted in Sea Launch and to building a long-term relationship with their world-class team.”

AMC-21 will be the first satellite of an SES company to use a Land Launch. AsiaSat, an SES affiliated company, has contracted with Sea Launch for AsiaSat-5 satellite, which is being built by Space Systems/Loral, to be launched in late 2008 on Land Launch.

Source: SES Global