The Superbird-6 satellite lifted into orbit last night after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on an Atlas IIAS rocket provided by International Launch Services (ILS). Liftoff of the Atlas vehicle, built by Lockheed Martin [LMT], occurred at 8:45 p.m. EDT. The rocket released the satellite into its target transfer orbit 30 minutes later.

The mission marked the fourth launch conducted this year by ILS, a Lockheed Martin joint venture. It also was the second ILS launch for Tokyo-based Space Communications Corp. Both Superbird spacecraft are 601 model satellites from Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) of Los Angeles.

The launch was the 80^th mission carried out by the workhorse Atlas rocket, said ILS President Mark Albrecht.

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