ADVISORY/ILS Proton to Launch ASTRA 1K.

Assignment/News Editors

ADVISORY...for Monday (Nov. 25)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

ILS 

Payload:                ASTRA 1K
                        SpaceBus platform
                        Separated mass:  approx. 5,250 kg (11,570 lbs)

Launch Vehicle:         Proton K/Block DM
                        Weight at liftoff:  691,272 kg (1.5 million
                        lbs), including payload
                        Height: 57.2 m (187.7 ft)

Launch Date:            Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002 (Baikonur)
                        Monday, Nov. 25, 2002 (U.S.)

Launch Window Opens:    4:04 a.m. Nov. 26 (Baikonur)
                        23:04   Nov. 25 GMT
                        6:04 p.m. Nov. 25 (EST/USA)

Launch Site:            Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
                        Launch Complex 81, Pad 23

End User:               SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company, leading
                        provider of video and data broadcasting via
                        satellite in Europe

Satellite Manufacturer: Alcatel Space, France

Launch Vehicle          Khrunichev State Research and Production Space
 Manufacturer:          Center, Moscow - Proton first three stages;
                        RSC Energia, near Moscow - Block DM fourth
                        stage

Launch Services         International Launch Services (ILS), McLean,
 Provider:              Va.

Satellite Use:          Digital services across Europe

Satellite Statistics:   -- Largest commercial satellite built to date
                        -- 14th satellite in SES ASTRA's constellation
                        -- Orbital location: 19.2 degrees East
                           longitude
                        -- Anticipated service life of 13 years
                        -- 1st Alcatel satellite launched on Proton

Mission Profile:        The Proton launch vehicle will inject the
                        ASTRA 1K satellite into geosynchronous
                        transfer orbit. The first three stages will
                        use a standard ascent trajectory to place the
                        Block DM upper stage with the satellite into a
                        175.5 km (109-mile) circular parking orbit,
                        inclined at 51.6 degrees.  Then the satellite
                        will be propelled to its transfer orbit by two
                        additional burns of the Block DM.  Following
                        separation from the Block DM, the spacecraft
                        will perform a series of liquid apogee engine
                        burns to raise perigee, lower inclination and
                        circularize the orbit at the geostationary
                        altitude of 36,000 km (22,300 miles).

Target Orbit            Apogee: 35,786 km
 at Separation:         Perigee:  3,343 km
                        Inclination: 26.3 degrees

Spacecraft Separation:  Approximately 6 hours, 36 minutes after
                        liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics: -- 8th ILS mission this year
                        -- 7th Proton mission this year
                        -- 25th ILS mission on Proton since formation
                           of the U.S.- Russian  joint venture in 1995
                        -- 6th launch for ASTRA by ILS on Proton


Live Broadcast          Galaxy IV-R, transponder 19/C-band, 99 degrees
 in U.S.:               West analog, downlink 4080 MHz (horizontal)
                        Test signals start at 5:30 p.m. EST Nov. 25

More Information:       Live webcast and general mission information
                        are available on the ILS web site at
                        www.ilslaunch.com.  Launch status updates are
                        available on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch
                        Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.