EchoStar-XI Prep’d With Sea Launch Activities

The Sea Launch vessels have departed Sea Launch Home Port and are en route to the Equator in preparation for the launch of the EchoStar XI broadcast satellite for DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) on July 15th. Liftoff is planned for 10:21 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (5:21 GMT, July 16), at the opening of a two-hour launch window. Upon arrival at the launch site, at 154° W Longitude, the Sea Launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown, during which the Odyssey Launch Platform will ballast to launch depth and erect a Zenit-3SL rocket on the launch pad. After successfully completing a final series of tests, the team will proceed with fueling operations and launch. Prior to fueling, all personnel on the Launch Platform will transfer to the Sea Launch Commander for the duration of the mission. The team monitors both marine and launch operations remotely, from a position at about four miles uprange of the platform. The Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 5,511 kg (12,150 lb) EchoStar-XI spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location of 110° W. Built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the powerful 20-kW spacecraft carries a Ku-band payload for direct broadcast television service. EchoStar-XI will complement the existing DISH Network fleet and will provide uninterrupted service and additional capacity and capabilities to DISH customers throughout the United States. Designed for a 15-year service life on orbit, EchoStar-XI is the 3rd satellite Sea Launch will deliver to orbit for EchoStar and the 8th mission with a spacecraft built by SS/L.