Intelsat LLC has announced that it has signed two launch services contracts - one with Boeing Launch Services for a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL vehicle and the second with International Launch Services (ILS) for its Proton M/Breeze M vehicle - for the launch of the two Intelsat X series satellites 10-01 and 10-02.

The 10-01 and 10-02 satellites, manufactured by Astrium, are scheduled for launch during the second and third quarters of 2003. These spacecraft have a design life span of 13 years each and will be deployed over the Atlantic Ocean region. The X series are the first Intelsat satellites to use plasma propulsion for in-orbit station keeping. This more propellant-efficient design allows for an increase in the useful mass of the spacecraft by 50 per cent over the Intelsat IX generation; this mass can be used for providing more transponders or more power per transponder. Both satellites will provide Internet, broadcast, corporate network and carrier solutions to Intelsat customers.

The 10-01 is scheduled to be deployed at 310E and has been designed to provide 23 Ku-band and 56 C-band transponders (measured in 36 MHz equivalent units). The 10-02 is planned for the 359E location with 36 Ku-band and 70 C-band transponders (measured in 36 MHZ equivalent units).