ILS To Launch Amazonas Satellite

International Launch Services (ILS) has signed an agreement to launch the Amazonas satellite covering Latin America for Spanish satellite operator Hispasat of Spain on a Proton/Breeze M rocket next year. It will mark the third launch pairing for Hispasat and ILS, which launched the Hispasat 1C in 2000 and Hispasat 1D in 2002 on Atlas IIAS vehicles from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Amazonas launch, planned for mid-2004, is scheduled to be the first Proton mission for Hispasat. This contract marks the third launch contract ILS has signed this month.