International Launch Services (ILS) completed another Lockheed Martin Atlas launch from Cape Canaveral on 18 September - the 25th Atlas IIAS booster and the 62nd Atlas to be launched since 1993, with no failures.
The launcher carried the Spanish Hispasat 1D communications satellite into a super synchronous transfer orbit. The latest deal secured by ILS is to launch the Greek-Cypriot Hellas Sat 2 communications satellite on an Atlas 501 next year.
Meanwhile, Arianespace has been selected by Spanish military satellite communications operator Hidesat to launch Spainsat, the country's first dedicated military communications satellite. Spainsat will replace military transponders on civil communications satellites.
Source: Flight International