ASTRA 2C IN ORBIT, PROTON MISSION SUCCESS

12th ASTRA satellite to temporarily deploy at 19.2° East

The ASTRA 2C satellite of Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SES; Frankfurt Exchange: SDSL) roared into space onboard a Russian Proton rocket from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur (Kazakhstan) today at 07.49 a.m. local time (03.49 a.m. CEST; 01.49 a.m. GMT).

ASTRA 2C is the twelfth SES satellite in the ASTRA series and it will be the fourth to be permanently co-located at the orbital position of 28.2° East. However, pending the successful launch of ASTRA 1K, the satellite will be temporarily deployed at SES first orbital slot at 19.2° East.

Explains Romain Bausch, Director General and Chairman of the Management Committee of SES: "With ASTRA 1A approaching the end of its expected lifetime after close to 13 years of successful operations in orbit, SES has decided to deploy ASTRA 2C temporarily at 19.2° East. The 12th ASTRA spacecraft can thus provide additional back-up capacity within SES' comprehensive inter-satellite protection scheme, once again demonstrating the unique quality of the ASTRA Satellite System."

Built by Boeing Satellite Systems…

The spacecraft was built by Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo (California). ASTRA 2C is a BSS 601 HP type spacecraft (HP = High Power), carrying up to 32 active transponders (for the first five years, 28 thereafter) with a TWTA (Travelling Wave Tube Amplifier) output power of 105 Watts. The satellite is equipped with XIPS (Xenon Ion Propulsion System) for in-orbit station keeping manoeuvres as well as conventional bi-propellant thrusters. Gallium arsenide solar cells provide ASTRA 2C with 7 kilowatts of electrical power. The satellite also has an advanced antenna design, using two large lightweight reflectors featuring Boeing contoured-surface technology. The spacecraft weighed 3.643 kilograms at launch and is designed for 15 years of lifetime.

... launched by International Launch Services (ILS)

The launch services for ASTRA 2C onboard Proton were provided by International Launch Services (ILS), the joint venture between Lockheed Martin of the United States, and Khrunichev and RSC Energia of Russia. The ASTRA 2C launch marks the fifth successful ASTRA launch on Proton.

Proton/ASTRA 2C mission overview:

The first three stages of the Proton launch vehicle carried ASTRA 2C into a support orbit at a perigee altitude of 179 kilometres and an apogee altitude of 215 kilometres with an inclination of 51.6°, which the satellite reached approximately ten minutes after lift-off from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur.

One hour and fourteen minutes after lift-off the fourth stage of the Proton launcher (Block DM) was ignited for the first time to raise the apogee altitude to 35.836 kilometres.

The fourth stage was fired for the second time six hours and thirty three minutes after lift-off to inject the space head into transfer orbit. The perigee altitude was raised to 7.700 km. At the same time the inclination of the orbit was reduced from 51.6° to 16.0°.

Separation of the ASTRA 2C satellite from the fourth stage of the Proton rocket took place 20 minutes after the end of the second burn. The satellite was first acquired by a tracking station in Australia.

Within the next few days, five activations of ASTRA 2C's apogee motor will propel the satellite into geostationary orbit. The on-board apogee motor will be activated during the 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th and the 13th revolution around the earth.

The satellite's solar panels and its communications antennas will be deployed approximately 11 days into the mission. After thorough testing of all the on-board systems, ASTRA 2C will be temporarily positioned at the orbital location of 19.2° East. The satellite will be operational in approximately five weeks.

For further information please contact:

Yves Feltes Press Relations Manager SES/ASTRA Tel. (352) 710 725 311 E-Mail: Yves_Feltes@ses-astra.com

About SES Group:

The SES Group operates a satellite services network providing seamless broadband communications spanning four continents. Based in Luxembourg, Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SES; Frankfurt Exchange: SDSL) is the operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home Satellite System, and a strategic shareholder in premier satellite operations like AsiaSat (34.10%), NSAB in Scandinavia (50%), and Star One in Latin America (19.99%).

On March 28th, 2001, SES announced the acquisition of 100% of US operator GE Americom in a $ 5 bn transaction still subject to regulatory approval. To that effect, SES has created SES Global S.A. which will hold all SES Group participations.

SES Global will become the world's premier broadband satellite services provider with a combined fleet of 29 wholly-owned spacecraft: 12 ASTRA and 17 Americom satellites as well as 13 additional satellites through partnerships and investments (3 AsiaSat, 3 SIRIUS, 5 Brasilsat and 2 other through Americom's interests in Latin America and Asia). The SES Global fleet will provide seamless global connectivity.

Americom operates 13 communications satellites over North America as well as 4 transoceanic spacecraft and reaches approximately 115 million viewers through an array of high-quality customers. NSAB operates the SIRIUS satellites providing audiovisual and multimedia services to more than 5 million homes in the Northern and Eastern European countries. AsiaSat is the leading satellite system in the Asian/Pacific region reaching over 80 million households with more than 300 million viewers. Star One operates Brasilsat, the largest satellite fleet over Latin America, whose broadcasts are received by more than 7 million households in Brazil.

SES' core business builds on ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home satellite system. ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital format over 1000 television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience of more than 87million homes in Europe. Three additional ASTRA satellites are currently under construction and due for launch before mid 2002.

SES Multimedia operates the ASTRA-NET platform, enabling service and content providers to transmit data directly, via satellite, to personal computers in businesses and homes. SES is also the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequencies for its ASTRA Broadband Interactive System, a DVB-RCS based return channel system for interactive satellite applications. In addition, SES is extending its direct involvement in multimedia with partnerships, joint ventures and direct investment.

In the year ended December 2000, SES Group had revenues of EURO 835.9mn, EBITDA of EURO 708.7mn and operating income of EURO 516.6mn with an EBITDA margin of 84.8% and 426 employees (including AsiaSat). Its contracted backlog amounts to EURO 4.6bn.

For additional information about SES Group, its partners and GE Americom, visit: www.ses-astra.com, www.nsab.se, www.asiasat.com, www.starone.com.br and www.geamericom.com.