- International Launch Services
Infobox_Company | company_name = ILS International Launch Services, Inc.
company_type = Private
company_slogan = "Focus on Performance"
foundation =1995
location = Headquarters in Mclean,Virginia , US-Russian joint venture
key_people = Frank McKenna, President
num_employees = < 60
industry = Aerospace and defense
products =Proton rocket
homepage = [http://www.ilslaunch.com/ www.ilslaunch.com]International Launch Services (ILS) is a U.S.-Russian joint venture with exclusive rights to the worldwide sale of commercial
Proton rocket launch services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome inKazakhstan .ILS was formed in 1995 as a
private spaceflight partnership betweenLockheed Martin (LM), Khrunichev and Energia. ILS initially co-marketed non-military launches on both the U.S.Atlas V and the Russian Protonexpendable launch vehicle s.With the Atlas V launch of the
SES Astra 1KR satellite onApril 20 ,2006 , ILS had made 100 launches, 97 of which were successful. [cite web | url = http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av008/ | title = Atlas 5 rocket launches TV broadcasting craft for Europe | publisher = Spaceflight Now]In September 2006 Lockheed-Martin announced its intention to sell its ownership interests in Lockheed Khrunichev Energia International, Inc. (LKEI) and ILS International Launch Services, Inc. (ILS) to Space Transport Inc. [cite web | url = http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2006/LockheedMartinAnnouncesSaleOfItsInt.html | title = Lockheed Martin Announces Sale Of Its Interests In International Launch Services And LKEI | publisher = Lockheed Martin] Space Transport Inc. was formed specifically for this transaction by Mario Lemme, who has been a consultant to ILS since its inception and a Board member for more than three years. [cite web | url = http://www.ilslaunch.com/news335 | title = ILS Ownership Changes; Frank McKenna Appointed President | publisher = ILS]
The transaction between Lockheed Martin and Space Transport Inc. completed in October 2006. Lockheed Martin has retained all rights related to marketing the commercial Atlas vehicle and is continuing to offer Atlas launch services to the worldwide commercial market through its subsidiary, Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, Inc. (LMCLS). ILS, no longer affiliated with Lockheed Martin, continued to market the Proton launch vehicles to commercial clients. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. [cite web | url = http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2006/LockheedMartinCompletesSaleOfIntern.html | title = Lockheed Martin Completes Sale Of International Launch Services | publisher = Lockheed Martin]
In October 2006 Krunichev spokesman said that the firm was ready to buy the stake being sold by Lockheed Martin. Russian space agency spokesman said that despite that Lockheed is selling its stake to Space Transport, Khrunichev may eventually end up owning it. He expressed the desire of the Russian side to increase its presence in the joint venture. Space Transport Inc, registered in the British Virgin Islands and headquartered in Moscow, denied that it would be selling the stake. [cite web | url = http://www.templetonthorp.com/en/news1345 | title = Russian Space Center Eyes Lockheed Stakes | publisher = Moscow Times]
In May 2008,
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center , a Russian company, acquired all of Space Transport's interest and is now the majorityshareholder in ILS. ILS will remain a U.S. company and headquarters will remain in McLean, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. where approximately 60 employees are based. As of May 2008, ILS has a backlog of 22 orders totalling approximately $2 billion, and has flown 45 commercial Proton missions since 1996. [cite web
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title = Khrunichev Purchases Majority Interest in International Launch Services
work = Press Release
publisher = ILS
date = 29 May 2008
url = http://www.ilslaunch.com/news-052908
format =
doi =
accessdate = 30 May 2008]References
External links
* [http://www.ilslaunch.com/ ILS Website]
* [http://spaceflightnow.com/proton/badr4/ Proton rocket's commercial marketer begins new era] , Spaceflight Now, November 8, 2006
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