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:                     Saturday, June 22, 2002
Launch Window Opens:             11:15 a.m. Baikonur
                                   9:15 a.m. Moscow
                                   5:15 GMT
                                   1:15 a.m. EDT (USA)
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                   Khrunichev State Research and
Manufacturer:                     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 4
                                    months
                                 -- 24th ILS mission on Proton since
                                    formation of the U.S.- Russian
                                    joint venture in 1995
Live Broadcast:                  Telstar 5, transponder 5, C-band, at
                                 97 degrees West Downlink frequency
                                 3800 MHz vertical 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 800/852-4980.

CONTACT:          ILS, McLean
                  Fran Slimmer, 571/633-7462
                  international cell: 646/229-4801
                  fran.slimmer@lmco.com

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