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.
Flight data file
Vehicle: Proton K/Block DM
Payload: EchoStar 8
Launch date: August 22, 2002
Launch time: 0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Satellite broadcast: Galaxy 9, Transponder 3, C-band

Pre-launch briefing
Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch.

Ground track - Map showing the ground track for the launch.

Orbit insertion - Illustration showing the orbits for this mission.

Proton - A look at the Russian expendable rocket to be used for this mission.

EchoStar 8 - General overview of this TV broadcasting spacecraft.