BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, March 14, 2008 –  Khrunichev and International Launch Services regret to announce an anomaly during today's Proton mission with the AMC-14 satellite.

The Proton Breeze M rocket lifted off at 5:18 a.m. today local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying the AMC-14 satellite for SES AMERICOM and its customer, EchoStar Corporation.   Preliminary flight information indicates that the anomaly occurred during the second burn of the Breeze M upper stage. The satellite failed to reach the planned orbit.  The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin.

A Russian State Commission has begun the process of determining the reasons for the anomaly.  ILS will release details when data become available.  In parallel with the State Commission, ILS will form its own Failure Review Oversight Board.  The FROB will review the commission’s final report and corrective action plan, in accord with U.S. and Russian government export control regulations.

ILS remains committed to providing reliable, timely launch services for all its customers.  To this end, ILS will work diligently with its partner Khrunichev to return Proton to flight as soon as possible. 

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