BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the preparations and launch of the Russian Proton rocket carrying the EchoStar 8 television broadcasting satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2002

Just seven hours after its inaugural flight of the Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, International Launch Services delivered a direct-to-home television broadcasting satellite into orbit using a Russian Proton vehicle. Read our full launch story.

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1205 GMT (8:05 a.m. EDT)

SPACECRAFT SEPARATION. The EchoStar 8 satellite has been successfully placed into orbit today by a Russian Proton rocket. Deployment from the Block DM upper stage occurred a short time ago after the rocket motor performed its third firing.

Built by Space Systems/Loral, the EchoStar 8 spacecraft will be used to provide direct-to-home television programming for subscribers of EchoStar's DISH Network system across the U.S.

We'll have a wrap up story very shortly.

0532 GMT (1:32 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 17 minutes. International Launch Services says that the first Block DM burn has been completed. The stage and EchoStar 8 are now in another coast period that will last nearly an hour.

Highlights of events yet to come will include two more firings by the Block DM. The first is scheduled for T+plus 72 minutes, 43 seconds to raise the altitude from the current low-altitude circular parking orbit to an egg-shaped loop reaching about 35,000 km high at one end. The rocket will coast up to that high point before the second burn at T+plus 6 hours, 14 minutes that will raise the orbit's low end and reduce inclination from the equator.

Separation of EchoStar 8 to complete this launch is expected around T+plus 6 hours, 36 minutes with the satellite being deployed into orbit of 4,300 km on the low end and 35,786 km on the high end.

The next update on the mission from ILS isn't expected until confirmation of spacecraft separation. So we'll pause our coverage at this point. Check back around 1200 GMT (8 a.m. EDT).

0527 GMT (1:27 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 12 minutes. The upper stage and satellite payload are currently on a ballistic trajectory, not yet in stable orbit around Earth. The upcoming burn will put the duo into space. A majority of Proton launches don't require this "extra" burn by the upper stage. Normally the three-stage Proton is able to loft the Block DM and satellite cargo into the parking orbit. But for Saturday's launch, the extra burn is necessary to reach a stable 100-mile circular orbit because of the heavier weight of EchoStar 8. The craft has a mass of 10,270 pounds.

0525 GMT (1:25 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. The spent third stage has been shut down and jettisoned. The Block DM upper stage and attached EchoStar 8 spacecraft are now flying on their own. The Block DM will ignite in about five minutes for a 47-second burn to achieve a low-altitude parking orbit around Earth.

0524 GMT (1:24 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. Pitch, yaw and roll programs are normal. Altitude 137.3 km, downrange distance 1,700 km.

0523 GMT (1:23 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. About one minute left in the third stage burn. Altitude 135.4 km, downrange distance 1,500 km. The vehicle has leveled out, gaining speed instead of altitude at this point.

0522 GMT (1:22 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 35 seconds. Good pressure readings from the third stage main engine. Altitude 136.7 km, 1,201 km downrange.

0522 GMT (1:22 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Altitude 136 km, downrange distance passing 1,000 km.

0521 GMT (1:21 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. A good third stage engine is reported.

0521 GMT (1:21 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. The payload fairing enclosing the EchoStar 8 spacecraft atop the rocket has been jettisoned.

0520 GMT (1:20 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 55 seconds. The second stage has shut down and separated. Third stage engine ignition confirmed.

0519 GMT (1:19 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 105 km, 385 km downrange from the launch pad.

0518 GMT (1:18 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Pitch, yaw and roll reported normal. Thrust chamber pressures in the second stage engines reported normal.

0517 GMT (1:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude 43 km.

0517 GMT (1:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Second stage engines looking good.

0517 GMT (1:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 15 seconds. The first stage engines have shut down and the spent stage has separated. The four RD-0210 second stage engines have now ignited to continue the powered trek to space.

0516 GMT (1:16 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. Just over a half-minute remaining in the first stage burn. System performance reported normal by launch officials.

0516 GMT (1:16 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. The vehicle is now approaching the period of maximum dynamic pressure during its climb through the atmosphere. First stage engines are all up and burning.

0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Proton rocket has performed its roll maneuver to achieve the proper launch heading for flight downrange. All six RD-253 first stage liquid-fueled engines are up and burning. Thrust chamber pressures reported normal.

0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the commercial Proton rocket with the EchoStar 8 television broadcast spacecraft aboard -- the second mission for International Launch Services in just seven hours from different sides of the planet!

0514 GMT (1:14 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Now 60 seconds away from launch of the Proton rocket and EchoStar 8 satellite. All systems are go. Ignition key has been activated.

The engine start command will be issued by the launch sequencer at T-minus 2.5 seconds. The six first stage engines will be ignited at T-minus 1.7 seconds and commanded to 40 percent thrust. The thrust level is increased to 107 percent at T-0.9 seconds. The liftoff confirmation is expected at T-0 seconds.

This engine start sequence allows for verification that all six powerplants are running normally before committing the Proton to launch.

0513 GMT (1:13 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. The Block DM upper stage readiness for flight is now being verified. The motor is also switching to internal power.

0512 GMT (1:12 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The Proton is switching to internal power.

0511 GMT (1:11 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The enable key of the launch sequencer is being turned to the "on" position as the countdown continues to liftoff at 0515 GMT.

0510 GMT (1:10 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting. At this point in the count, the firing circuits for the Proton rocket are being energized.

0506 GMT (1:06 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket's first three stages -- which comprise the "core vehicle" -- are being checked for final confirmation they are ready for launch.

0500 GMT (1:00 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes. This morning's mission will be the second in seven hours for International Launch Services -- the joint U.S./Russian endeavor formed in 1995 by Lockheed Martin, Khrunichev and Energia to globally market Atlas and Proton rockets. The maiden Atlas 5 rocket was successfully launched at 2205 GMT Wednesday from Cape Canaveral.

This will be ILS' sixth launch of 2002 and third using the Russian Proton. It'll also mark the launch service provider's second mission for EchoStar in six months, following the successful deployment of EchoStar 7 in February aboard the first Atlas 3B rocket. In all, EchoStar is using its sixth ILS vehicle today. EchoStar 3, 5, 6 and 7 have flown on Atlas boosters and EchoStar 4 and now 8 were paired with Proton.

EchoStar 1 flew on a Chinese Long March rocket and an Arianespace Ariane 4 lofted EchoStar 2.

0452 GMT (12:52 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 23 minutes and counting. Officials confirm winds are acceptable today and there are no problems. The countdown is currently under computer control and continuing on schedule.

0450 GMT (12:50 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 25 minutes and counting. After a two-day postponement by gusty upper level winds, the Russian Proton rocket and the EchoStar 8 spacecraft have entered the final countdown for another attempt at liftoff from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch is slated to occur at 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT).

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2002
0440 GMT (12:40 a.m. EDT)

Another launch attempt is underway at Baikonur. Our live updates will begin at 0450 GMT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2002
2225 GMT (6:25 p.m. EDT)

Continued unfavorable upper level winds have forced officials to forego making another attempt to launch the Russian Proton rocket with the EchoStar 8 TV broadcasting satellite early Wednesday. Liftoff has been pushed back another 24 hours to 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT) Thursday.

The Proton flight is managed by International Launch Services, the joint U.S./Russian firm that markets Proton and American Atlas rockets. The debut Atlas 5 rocket launch remains scheduled for 2205 GMT (6:05 p.m. EDT) Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida. So ILS could have two launches in seven hours.

0530 GMT (1:30 a.m. EDT)

Liftoff of the EchoStar 8 spacecraft aboard the Russian Proton rocket from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Central Asia has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT). The 24-hour postponement was ordered by launch officials because high-altitude winds were out of acceptable limits today.

Strong winds can be a problem for the rocket to fly through and are a common cause of launch scrubs.

0500 GMT (1:00 a.m. EDT)

SCRUB! Today's launch of the Proton rocket with the EchoStar 8 TV broadcasting satellite has been called off due to an unspecified problem. There is no word yet on the exact nature of the problem or when the liftoff will be rescheduled.

This is the second postponement for EchoStar 8. A faulty command receiver on the spacecraft forced the launch to be delayed on June 22 for repairs.

We'll update this page as soon as more information becomes available.

0458 GMT (12:58 a.m. EDT)

A problem has occurred. The initial report from officials is "the launch vehicle is no go." The launch commander is instructing the technicians to begin safing the vehicle. It appears this will be a scrub for today.

0455 GMT (12:55 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket weighs about 1.5 million pounds as it sits on the launch pad. The Loral-built EchoStar 8 spacecraft accounts for 10,270 pounds of the weight. At launch the Proton's six first stage engines will fire together to propel the massive, 188-foot tall rocket into the morning sky at Baikonur. It is currently 10:55 a.m. local time at the launch site.

0450 GMT (12:50 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 25 minutes and counting. Officials report all systems remain ready for an on-time launch today. The countdown is currently under computer sequencer control, which will continue through liftoff. The final software updates to the rocket's guidance computer were recently performed.

0445 GMT (12:45 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. The Russian Proton rocket is ready for liftoff in a half-hour to place the EchoStar 8 direct-to-home television broadcast satellite into space. The three-stage Proton core vehicle and Block DM upper stage are fully fueled, a process that began about six hours before launch time. And in the past 45 minutes, the launch pad's mobile service tower was rolled away from the rocket.

Liftoff from Complex 81's pad 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is still slated to occur at 0515 GMT.

MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2002

Launch of the Proton rocket remains set to occur at 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT) Tuesday. We'll begin our live updates about 30 minutes before liftoff time.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2002

After being delayed two months for repairs, the EchoStar 8 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite is again ready for blastoff atop a Russian Proton rocket from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Liftoff is scheduled for 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT) Tuesday.

As the original countdown entered the final hours for launch on June 22, engineers uncovered a problem with a command receiver on the craft. That prompted an extensive effort to troubleshoot the glitch and ultimately to replace the component. The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral and the receiver was made by a separate vendor.

EchoStar 8 will be deployed into a highly elliptical transfer orbit 6-1/2 hours after liftoff by the Proton's Block-DM upper stage. The satellite will then maneuver itself into geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator, parking at 110 degrees West longitude to join seven other spacecraft in the EchoStar fleet. EchoStar 8 and EchoStar 7, which was successfully launched in February, will improve EchoStar's relay of local TV channels to subscribers across the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.

As of June 30, EchoStar's DISH Network had 7.46 million subscribers. That's up about 23 percent over a year ago.

Watch this page for live play-by-play updates during the final countdown and launch.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2002
2020 GMT (4:20 p.m. EDT)

EchoStar 8 remains grounded due to a technical problem with the spacecraft. Today's launch was put on hold in the final hours of the countdown after technicians uncovered a problem with a command receiver, satellite builder Space Systems/Loral and EchoStar said in a joint statement today.

"The launch will be rescheduled following the completion of further satellite testing and availability of the Baikonur launch base," the statement said.

1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)

Officials still have not formally rescheduled the launch of EchoStar 8 atop the Russian Proton rocket. An attempt won't be made early Sunday. More information might be released later today or tomorrow.

0440 GMT (12:40 a.m. EDT)

Today's launch attempt was postponed at the request of Space Systems/Loral, manufacturer of the EchoStar 8 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite that the Proton rocket will place into Earth orbit.

An issue apparently arose with the spacecraft, prompting officials to stop the countdown. Details on the exact nature of the problem have not yet been released.

A new launch date is pending resolution of the issue.

Watch this page for updates as more is known.

0330 GMT (11:30 p.m. EDT Fri.)

Launch of the Proton rocket with EchoStar 8 has been scrubbed for at least 24 hours due to an unspecified problem. We'll update this page when more information becomes available.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2002

The EchoStar 8 satellite, built to beam television programming to millions of homes across the U.S., will ride a Russian Proton rocket into Earth orbit on Saturday.

Liftoff from pad 23 at Baikonur Cosmodrome's Complex 81 in Kazakhstan is scheduled for 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT; or 11:15 a.m. at the launch site).

Built by Space Systems/Loral, the high-powered satellite will join EchoStar's fleet of TV broadcasting spacecraft that provide a variety of TV and music entertainment programming directly to subscribers with small satellite dishes. The Littleton, Colorado-based company currently operates seven satellites for its DISH Network system.

EchoStar 8 will provide Ku-band and spot-beam services over the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii to enhance DISH Network's delivery of local TV channels and ensure backup capacity in case another EchoStar satellite should fail.

International Launch Services -- the joint U.S./Russian venture formed by Lockheed Martin, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia to market Proton and American Atlas rockets -- is overseeing EchoStar 8's trip to orbit.

The three-stage Khrunichev Proton K rocket will propel the Energia-made Block DM upper stage and attached EchoStar 8 spacecraft from the desert steppes of Central Asia on a sub-orbital trajectory during the first nine-and-a-half minutes of flight.

After the Block DM separates from the Proton's spent third stage, the motor will fire for just over a minute to achieve a low-altitude parking orbit around the planet. A majority of Proton launches don't require this "extra" burn by the upper stage. Normally the three-stage Proton is able to loft the Block DM and satellite cargo into the parking orbit. But for Saturday's launch, the extra burn is necessary to reach a stable 100-mile circular orbit because of the heavier weight of EchoStar 8. The craft has a mass of 10,270 pounds.

The Block DM and EchoStar 8 will orbit for almost an hour before the second firing is planned, a seven-minute burn that will raise one side of the orbit to geostationary altitude of about 22,237 miles.

The duo will then coast up to the high point of the orbit where the third and final Block DM firing of the launch is planned. Ignition of the minute-and-a-half burn is expected at about T+plus 6 hours and 14 minutes, raising the orbit's low point to about 2,672 miles and lowering the orbital inclination to 23 degrees to the equator.

EchoStar 8 will be deployed from the upper stage at about T+plus 6 hours and 36 minutes. The satellite will spend several days firing its onboard engine to circularize the orbit to geostationary altitude and reducing inclination to zero. The craft's final orbital position will be over the equator at 110 degrees West longitude to cover the entire U.S.

Watch this page for live play-by-play updates during the final countdown and launch Saturday.