We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the EchoStar XV satellite built by Space Systems/ Loral. We have had confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 11:53 p.m. EDT, or 03:53 UTC, 9 hours and 13 minutes after liftoff. Everything occurred as planned with ignition, shutdown and separation of the Proton’s first three stages. Then the Breeze M upper stage with the satellite continued the mission, igniting five times, and then releasing the satellite into transfer orbit.

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As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the EchoStar XV satellite, we have received confirmation that the 2nd burn of the upper stage occurred and shut down as scheduled. The next events are scheduled for about 2 hours from now. The Breeze M upper stage will ignite for a 3rd time and burn for approximately 13 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned. All this will happen while the vehicle is again out of range of a ground station. We should reacquire the vehicle shortly after the fourth burn is complete.

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We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd and 4th burn, as well as jettisoning its additional propellant tank. The vehicle is now in a 5-hour coast period, during which we will have nothing to report. The 5th burn is scheduled to start around 11:33 p.m. EDT, or 03:33 GMT. Separation of the EchoStar XV spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 13 minutes.

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We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of our Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the EchoStar XV satellite. The three stages of the Proton vehicle have performed as planned, and it is up to the Breeze M upper stage to complete the mission. The upper stage has begun its first burn, which is scheduled to last around 4 minutes.

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