[Satellite Today 02-25-09] International Launch Services (ILS) and Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) signed a contract for the launch of the AsiaSat 5 satellite on an ILS Proton rocket in the third quarter of 2009, ILS announced Feb. 24.
    The launch contract previously belonged to Sea Launch but was scrapped due to the launch service provider’s inability to meet AsiaSat’s timeframe requirements, Sea Launch Spokeswoman Paula Korn told Satellite News. “It didn’t surprise us,” she said. “We had been working and talking to AsiaSat for a long time on several options to meet the timeframe they were looking for and we just weren’t able to do it.”
    AsiaSat 5, under construction by Space Systems/Loral, is set to replace AsiaSat 2 at 100.5 degrees East.

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