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