Lockheed Martin's Atlas V launch vehicle, designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems headquartered near Denver, Colo., is scheduled for its inaugural flight Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Atlas V is America's next-generation rocket, which ultimately will replace all current versions of Atlas and Titan launch systems in operation today.

Liftoff is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 6:05 p.m. EDT, with the launch window extending from 6:05 - 7:34 p.m. EDT (4:05 - 5:34 p.m. MDT). Launch will take place from the company's new launch site at Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral. Media are invited to cover a number of pre-launch and launch events.

This first Atlas V, designated AV-001, will boost a communications satellite, HOT BIRD(TM) 6, into orbit for the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat). This is the most powerful version of Atlas launch vehicles to fly, illustrating Lockheed Martin's commitment to being the preeminent launch system provider in the United States. Atlas V also is the first of America's new launch vehicles designed to meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program as well as the global commercial satellite market, ensuring America's access to space. International Launch Services (ILS) manages all tasks associated with providing launch services on both the Atlas and the Russian-built Proton vehicle families, including technical, management and marketing expertise. Headquartered in McLean, Va., ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Russian companies Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia.

MEDIA INVITED -- INTERVIEWS LIVE VIA SATELLITE ON LAUNCH DAY

Aug. 21, from 7-11 a.m. EDT, top executives from Lockheed Martin Space Systems will be available for television interviews via satellite live from the launch site in Florida, to answer questions and talk about America's next-generation Atlas V and what it means to Lockheed Martin and the global satellite market. Lockheed Martin will provide the satellite uplink and audio/video broadcast coordinates for those live interviews. To schedule interview times, please contact Jim Lewis, Communications Concepts Inc., at 321-783-5232.

MEDIA INVITED -- LAUNCH DAY COVERAGE

Denver-area news media are invited to view a live broadcast of the launch Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Lockheed Martin's Waterton facilities near Denver, along with company executives and employees who are involved the Atlas program. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. MDT. Media should arrive at the visitor's center at the Waterton facility entrance at 3 p.m. MDT on launch day (Aug. 21) for escort to the Launch Systems Technology Test Bed auditorium, where employees will be gathered to follow the countdown. Lockheed Martin executives and Atlas program employees will be available to answer questions and provide interviews. To make arrangements to be at Waterton on launch day, please contact Joan Underwood at 303-971-7398, Joy Knight at 303-977-5841 or Steve Tatum at cell phone 408-887-5859.

LAUNCH BROADCAST COORDINATES

Live broadcast of the launch will be provided on launch day, Aug. 21, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Countdown coverage will begin at 3:15 p.m. MDT. The launch broadcast will be available on Galaxy 3, Transponder 1, C-band, located at 95 degrees. Downlink frequency 3720 MHz Vertical. A simulcast of the launch broadcast will also be available on the worldwide web at http://www.ilslaunch.com/ . The launch broadcast will conclude after spacecraft separation scheduled to occur approximately 31 minutes after liftoff, followed by closing statements by top executives from Lockheed Martin, International Launch Services and the Eutelsat satellite customer.

To find out more about Lockheed Martin's launch vehicle and space programs, go to http://www.ast.lmco.com/ . The web site features updates and images of Atlas and other key programs within Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. For more information about International Launch Services and Atlas and Proton launch services, go to http://www.ilslaunch.com/ . The Atlas V/AV-001 press kit is available on-line at http://www.ilslaunch.com/atlas/atlasv/AVpresskit .

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a variety of advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers. Chief products include a full-range of space launch systems, including heavy- lift capability, ground systems, remote sensing and communications satellites for commercial and government customers, advanced space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft, fleet ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a highly diversified global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses span space and telecommunications, electronics, information and services, aeronautics, energy and systems integration. Lockheed Martin had 2001 sales surpassing $24 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin