ILS Proton to Launch EchoStar VIII 08-15-2002

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(TM),
                       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 at
                       www.ilslaunch.com. Launch status updates are
                       available on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch
                       Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.

Contact:

     ILS, McLean
     Fran Slimmer, 571/633-7462
     mobile: 646/229-4801
     Cape Canaveral, Fla.: 321/476-5283
     fran.slimmer@lmco.com