Atlas IIAS-Centaur Rocket Successfully Launches ICO Communications Satellite

By Cliff Lethbridge

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL (June 19, 2001) - A Lockheed-Martin Atlas IIAS-Centaur rocket successfully launched an ICO communications satellite from Launch Pad 36B at 12:41 a.m. EDT today. Launch occurred as scheduled with no delays. The 5,944-pound ICO payload is a modified Boeing 601-type satellite built for ICO Global Communications of Uxbridge, England. This is the first satellite in a planned 12-satellite ICO constellation featuring ten operational satellites and two spares. Incorporating more computing power than 600 Pentium III-based computers, each ICO satellite will support digital data and voice communications, including wireless Internet and other pocket data services, to users throughout the world. The satellite launched today is a test satellite intended to integrate the ICO ground and space systems. It is, however, expected to become integrated into the operational ICO satellite constellation.

Copyright © 2001 by Spaceline, Inc.