ADVISORY/Inaugural Launch of Atlas V for International Launch Services, Lockheed Martin.

Assignment/News Editors

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (Aug. 21)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

ILS 

Payload:                HOT BIRD(TM)6
                        Geostationary broadcast satellite
                        Separated mass:  Approx. 8609 lbs (3905 kg)

Launch Vehicle:         Atlas V, designated AV-001
                        Centaur upper stage
                        RD-180 engine
                        Weight at liftoff:  737,547 lbs (334,546 kg),
                        including payload
                        Fairing: 14 ft (4.2 m) diameter aluminum
                        Height: 191 ft (58 m)

Launch Date:            Wednesday,  Aug. 21, 2002

Launch Window:          89 minutes
                        6:05-7:34 p.m. EDT
                        22:05-23:34 GMT

Launch Site:            Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
                        Launch Complex 41

Customer:               Eutelsat, Paris, France

Satellite Manufacturer: Alcatel Space Industries, Paris

Launch Vehicle          Atlas vehicle and Centaur upper stage built by
Manufacturer:           Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver,
                        Colo.; San Diego, Calif.; and Harlingen,
                        Texas.

Launch Services
Provider:               International Launch Services,  McLean, Va.

Satellite Use:          High-powered satellite to deliver 600
                        television and 475 radio services to homes
                        across Europe, North Africa and the Middle
                        East

Satellite Statistics:   -- Spacebus 3000B3 model
                        -- 28 Ku-band, 4 Ka-band transponders
                        -- SKYPLEX payload for on-board multiplexing
                        -- More than 12 years expected lifetime

Mission Profile:        Inaugural flight of Atlas V will place HOT
                        BIRD 6 into orbit using a supersynchronous
                        mission design. This mission will use a
                        parking orbit ascent trajectory design with
                        two Centaur burn phases. The mission employs
                        in-flight retargeting, with a guidance
                        commanded shutdown. The satellite's own
                        attitude and orbital control system will
                        perform a series of burns to lower apogee and
                        raise perigee to geosynchronous altitude,
                        circularize orbit and reduce inclination.

Spacecraft Separation:  About 311/2minutes after liftoff

Orbital Parameters:     Apogee Altitude:         24,757 nm (45,850 km)
(@ Separation)          Perigee Altitude:        170 nm (315 km)
                        Inclination:             17.57 deg
                        Flight Azimuth:          180 deg

ILS Mission Statistics: -- 1st flight of Atlas V
                        -- 6th ILS mission this year
                        -- Atlas family has perfect record in 60
                           consecutive flights


                         NEWS MEDIA ACTIVITIES
                           All times are EDT

Vehicle Rollout:        Meet at Cape Canaveral AFS Pass & ID Building
                        for badging at 7:40 a.m., with departure at
                        8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Media Briefings:        Pre-launch news conference at 11 a.m.
                        Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Radisson Resort in
                        Cape Canaveral, followed by lunch.

                        Post-launch news conference at 10 a.m.
                        Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Radisson.

Remote Camera Set-up:   Photographers should meet at CCAFS Pass & ID
                        at 5:15 p.m. for departure at 5:30 p.m.
                        Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Launch Viewing:         Accredited media covering the launch should
                        meet at CCAFS Pass & ID at 3:40 p.m.
                        Wednesday, Aug. 21.  Caravan in personal
                        vehicles with Air Force escort departs at
                        4 p.m. for the EELV Press Site.

Live Broadcast:         Launch program will be carried on Galaxy 3,
                        transponder 1, C-band, 95 degrees West,
                        downlink frequency 3720 MHz (vertical). Test
                        signals begin about 5 p.m. EDT.

More Information:       General mission information and a live webcast
                        of the launch  will be available on the ILS
                        website at www.ilslaunch.com. Launch status
                        updates will be available on the ILS U.S.
                        domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.