McLEAN, Va., 02-MAR-04 -- International Launch Services (ILS) is being recognized for its innovation in the launch vehicle market with an award from PBI Media.

ILS was honored for creating and implementing a novel and unique Schedule Assurance program for its customers. ILS' two reliable, independent vehicles -- the Lockheed Martin Atlas and the Khrunichev-built Proton rockets -- back each other up to provide a timely launch.

The PR & Marketing Awards, presented by Satellite News, one of PBI Media's publications, honor the best products and campaigns from the last year and serve as a testament to organizations' successes in the satellite arena. In addition to Satellite News PBI Media LLC publishes such newsletters and magazines as Via Satellite, Defense Daily, Telecom Policy Report, Fiber Optics News, PR News, Media Industry Newsletter, CableFax Daily, Air Safety Week, Communications Technology and Film & Video.

In this very challenging satellite marketplace, this awards program offers the industry a benchmark for excellence in marketing and PR, said Diane Schwartz, Satellite News publisher and vice president. From the most outstanding campaigns and products to the industry's best marketers and communicators, we are honored to showcase the tremendous efforts of satellite marketers and innovators.

It is gratifying to be recognized by a major news and media organization with the reputation and reach of PBI Media, said ILS President Mark Albrecht. Our world-class team at ILS has done it again: combining the best of two companies and offering the most competitive schedule assurance service to our customers with the two best, most reliable launch vehicles in the industry.

If imitation is the best form of flattery, International Launch Services was a well-deserving winner, stated a story in Satellite News. The article noted that competitors are trying to team up and follow ILS' lead.

But it's a great deal more than just switching payloads between different rockets, Albrecht said. The vehicles have to be comparable in lift capability, reliability and cost to the customer, meaning both price and insurability. And you need the same management team on both systems, with a steady launch tempo, so you can fit additional launches into the schedules. With Atlas and Proton, ILS is the leader in all these areas.