April 30, 2002

Payload: DIRECTV-5
Loral 1300 platform
Separated mass: approx. 3,640 kg (8,025 lbs)

Launch Vehicle: Proton K/Block DM
Weight at liftoff: 691,272 kg (1.5 million lbs), including payload
Height: 57.2 m (187.7 ft)
Payload fairing: 4.35 m (14.27 ft) diameter

Launch Date: Monday, May 6, 2002

Launch Window Opens: 11 p.m. Baikonur
9:00 p.m. Moscow
17:00 GMT
1:00 p.m. EDT (USA)

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Complex 81, Pad 24

End User: DIRECTV, Inc., leading U.S. direct-to-home entertainment provider

Satellite Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto, Calif.

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer: Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow – Proton first three stages; RSC Energia, near Moscow – Block DM fourth stage

Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services (ILS), McLean, Va.

Satellite Use: Direct-to-home entertainment and broadband services

Satellite Statistics:
7th satellite launched in DIRECTV/DBS constellation
Orbital location: 119 degrees West longitude
32 transponders, 113 watts at Ku-band
(switchable to 16 transponders with 220 watts)
Anticipated service life of 12 years

Mission Profile: The Proton launch vehicle will inject the DIRECTV-5 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The first three stages will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Block DM upper stage with the satellite into a an elliptical parking orbit of 186.5 km by 222.2 km (116 mi x 138 mi), inclined at 51.6 degrees. Then the Block DM will ignite twice to propel the satellite to its target transfer orbit of 35,786 km x 6,600 km (22,236 mi x 4,101 mi), inclined at 17.6 degrees. Following separation from the Block DM, the spacecraft will perform a series of liquid apogee engine burns to raise perigee, lower inclination and circularize the orbit at the geostationary altitude of 36,000 km (22,300 mi).

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 6 hours, 32 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
4th ILS mission this year
2nd ILS Proton mission this year
23rd ILS mission on Proton since formation of the U.S.-Russian joint venture in 1995

Live Broadcast: Telstar 6, transponder 22, C-band
Downlink frequency 4140 MHz horizontal
Signals to begin at 12:15 p.m. EDT

More Information: Live webcast and general mission information will be available on the ILS web site. Launch status updates are available on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.

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