Lockheed to launch 3rd satellite

Lockheed to launch 3rd satellite

Measat, Malaysia's sole commercial satellite operator, has picked U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin Corporation to launch its third communications satellite in 2005, local media reported on Saturday.

Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Measat Global Berhad, has signed a US$48.7 million contract with Lockheed-Khrunichev-Energia International Inc. and Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services Inc for the satellite's launch services.

The $132.5-million satellite, ordered from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing in March, will be launched on a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from Baikonur in Kazakhstan from May to November 2005, the Bernama news agency said.

Measat-3 would serve Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Australia.

Malaysia has already launched three satellites, two communications satellites known as Measat 1 and Measat 2 and a microsatellite named Tiongsat 1. --AFP