McLEAN, Va., Feb. 21, 2007 – International Launch Services (ILS) today announced that EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) will launch a satellite in 2008 on a Proton Breeze M vehicle. Financial details were not disclosed.

EchoStar has a long-standing relationship with ILS that includes 100 percent success on all previous launches.

ILS President Frank McKenna said, "We are happy to have completed this order for a returning customer, and we are dedicated to performing reliably and on-schedule to support EchoStar."

The Proton vehicle, built by ILS partner Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, has carried out more than 320 missions for the Russian government and commercial customers for more than 40 years. The Proton launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

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About ILS

ILS is a joint venture of Space Transport Inc., Khrunichev and RSC Energia. ILS is incorporated in Delaware in the United States, and is headquartered in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. For more information, visit [http://www.ilslaunch.com www.ilslaunch.com].

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) serves more than 13 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000. DISH Network's services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar has been a leader for more than 25 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300 company. Visit EchoStar's Web site at [http://www.echostar.com www.echostar.com] or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

Contacts

KathieGonzalez, EchoStar, 720-514-5351, press@echostar.com.