August 15, 2002-

Payload: EchoStar VIII, Loral 1300 platform; Separated mass: approx. 4,660 kg (10,270 lbs)

Launch Vehicle: Proton K/Block DM
Weight at liftoff: 691,000 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: Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2002

Launch Window Opens: 11:15 a.m. Baikonur
5:15 GMT
1:15 a.m. EDT (USA)
11:15 p.m. Aug. 19 MDT

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan; Launch Complex 81, Pad 23

End User: EchoStar Communications Corp., Littleton, Colo

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: High-powered direct broadcast satellite to enhance services for DISH Network, EchoStar�s state-of-the-art DBS entertainment service

Satellite Statistics:
8th satellite in EchoStar constellation
Orbital location: 110 degrees West longitude
Anticipated service life of 15 years

Mission Profile: The Proton launch vehicle will inject the EchoStar VIII 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 circular parking orbit of 160 km (100 mi), inclined at 51.6 degrees. Then the Block DM will ignite three times to propel the satellite to a transfer orbit of 4,300 km x 35,786 km (2,670 mi x 22,300 mi). 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 35,786 km (22,300 mi).

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 6 hours, 36 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
5th ILS mission this year
3rd ILS Proton mission this year
2nd ILS mission for EchoStar in 6 months
24th ILS mission on Proton since formation of the U.S.-Russian joint venture in 1995

Live Broadcast: Galaxy 9, transponder 3, C-band, at 127 degrees West
Downlink frequency 3760 MHz vertical
Test signals to begin at 12:30 a.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.