The EchoStar XIV satellite, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, will join DISH Network’s fleet of satellites that serve more than 14 million satellite TV customers in the U.S. From its location at 119 degrees West, EchoStar XIV will provide Ku-band services over the continental United States — the launch is scheduled for March 21st from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, with the satellite to be lofted via a Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle.
The DISH Network fleet has the capacity to deliver hundreds of the highest quality video and audio channels, including the most HD in the country. DISH Network’s programming coupled with award-winning HD and DVR technology, makes it the best value in the TV industry. The Proton M launch vehicle, using a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the EchoStar XIV satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the EchoStar XIV satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 10 minutes after liftoff.
