McLean, VA, 13-DEC-04 --

Payload: AMC-16 Geostationary direct-broadcast satellite

Separated mass: Approx. 8,962 lbs (4,065 kg)

Launch Vehicle: Atlas V, 521 configuration, designated AV-005
5.4-meter diameter fairing (16.4 ft), built by Contraves Space
2 strap-on solid rocket motors, built by Aerojet
Single Centaur upper stage
RD-180 main engine

Weight at liftoff: 958,850 lbs (434,930 kg), including payload

Height: 196 ft (59.7 m)

Launch Date: Friday, Dec. 17, 2004

Launch Window: 160 minutes (2 hours 40 mins)
4:41-7:21 a.m. EST
1:41-4:21 a.m. PST
9:41-12:21 GMT

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

End User: SES AMERICOM, Princeton, N.J. An SES GLOBAL company

Satellite Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems Co., Newtown, Pa.

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

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

Satellite Use: 2nd Ku- and Ka-band hybrid satellite dedicated to AMERICOM2Home®, delivering direct-to-home entertainment and broadband services to a single receiving dish. Will be used by EchoStar’s DISH Network, covering all 50 United States.

Satellite Statistics: ― A2100 model
— 24 active Ku-band transponders
— 12 programmable Ka-band spot beams
— 15 years expected lifetime

Mission Profile: Atlas V will place AMC-16 into orbit with a geosynchronous transfer orbit mission, using a parking orbit ascent trajectory design with two Centaur burn phases. The mission employs 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 109 minutes (1 hour 48 mins 42 secs) after liftoff

Orbital Parameters (@ Separation):

Apogee Altitude: 19,323 nm (35,786 km)

Perigee Altitude: 2591 nm (4,798 km)

Inclination: 18.02 deg

Argument of Perigee: 0 deg

ILS Mission Statistics: ― 4th commercial flight of Atlas V
― 4th ILS launch for SES AMERICOM in 2004
― 4th ILS launch of LMCSS-built satellite this year
— 6th Atlas flight in 2004

― 10th ILS mission this year
― Atlas family has perfect record in 73 consecutive flights

NEWS MEDIA ACTIVITIES
All times are EST
Remote Camera Set-up: Meet at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Pass & ID at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, for transfer to van that will take you to Pad 41.

Media Briefing: Pre-launch news conference at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Florida Space Authority building, 100 Spaceport Way, outside CCAFS Gate 1.
Vehicle Rollout: Access limited to 15 journalists, reservation required. RSVP with Julie Andrews of Lockheed Martin at 321-853-1567. Meet at Cape Canaveral AFS Pass & ID for badging at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16.

Launch Viewing: Meet at CCAFS Pass & ID at 3 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17, for Air Force escort to Atlas V Press Site.
Live Broadcast: Launch program will be carried in the U.S. on AMC-9, transponder 4, C-band, 85 degrees West, downlink frequency 3780 MHz (horizontal). Test signals begin about 4 a.m. EST.

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.