Khrunichev and International Launch Services announce an anomaly during today’s Proton mission with the AMC-14 satellite.

The Proton Breeze M rocket lifted off at 5:18 a.m. today local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying the AMC-14 satellite for SES AMERICOM and its customer, EchoStar Corporation. Preliminary flight information indicates that the anomaly occurred during the second burn of the Breeze M upper stage. The satellite failed to reach the planned orbit. The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin.

A Russian State Commission has begun the process of determining the reasons for the anomaly. ILS will release details when data become available. In parallel with the State Commission, ILS will form its own Failure Review Oversight Board. The FROB will review the commission’s final report and corrective action plan, in accord with U.S. and Russian government export control regulations.

Payload:
AMC-14 communications satellite
Lockheed Martin A2100 platform
Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 9,127 lbs (4,140 kg)

Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
Weight at liftoff: 691,272 kg (1,523,565 lbs), including payload
Height: 56.2 m (184 ft)

Launch Date:
March 15 (Baikonur)
March 14 (GMT, U.S.)

Launch Time:
05:18 a.m. Baikonur
23:18 GMT
07:18 p.m. EDT

Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39

Launch Customer:
SES AMERICOM, Princeton, N.J.
Part of SES family of companies

Satellite Manufacturer:
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems,
Newtown, Pa.

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center,
Moscow

Launch Services Provider:
International Launch Services (ILS), McLean, Va.

Satellite Use:
Advanced Broadcast Satellite Service satellite for SES AMERICOM’S AMERICOM2Home customer, EchoStar’s DISH Network direct-to-home entertainment service, covering all 50 United States.

Satellite Statistics:

* 32 Ku-band transponders
* Orbital location: 61.5 degrees West longitude
* Anticipated service life of 15 years

Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a three-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage and the AMC-14 satellite into a suborbital trajectory. From there the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit. Following two additional burns of the Breeze M, the satellite will be injected into a geostationary transfer orbit. Separation will occur approximately 6 hours, 55 minutes and 50 seconds after liftoff.

Target Orbit at Separation:

* Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)
* Perigee: 6,257 km (3,889 miles)
* Inclination: 19.7°

Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 6 hours, 56 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:

* 2nd ILS mission this year
* 7th ILS Proton launch for SES AMERICOM
* 11th A2100 satellite launch on Proton
* 45th ILS mission on Proton

Live Broadcast in U.S.:
AMC-1, transponder 17, C-band, 103 degrees West, downlink 4040 MHz (horizontal), analog NTSC. Test signals start at 6:30 p.m. EDT

In Europe, Russia & Kazakhstan:
NSS-7, transponder WHL4/EUH3, Channel 1, Ku-band, 338 degrees East; FEC 3/4, sym rate: 5,632; downlink 11095.6 MHz (horizontal), digital PAL, Test signals start at 22:30 GMT, broadcast about 22:55.