Englewood, Colo.
–
said Sunday that it
successfully launched its 15
th
satellite — the EchoStar XIV —
which will help the satellite-TV-service provider expand its HDTV offerings.
The satellite was built by Space
Systems/Loral, and was launched by International Launch Services aboard a
Proton/Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:27 p.m. E.T., March
20.
The satellite successfully reached
a geosynchronous transfer orbit after a nine-hour, 10-minute mission, Dish
Network said.
The satellite will ultimately
reside at 119 degrees West longitude at an altitude of 22,000 miles. Video
replays of the launch are available on
.
Dish Network said it currently
broadcasts more than 160 HD channels as well as HD locals in 152 markets.
“Dish Network
continues to launch new satellites to remain at the forefront of multichannel
video programming,” said Tom Cullen, sales, marketing and programming
executive VP for Dish Network. “We look forward to extending our
industry-leading HD lineup to well over 200 channels.”
