Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has announced that a satellite it delivered to DISH Network is performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite successfully deployed its solar arrays late Saturday night and early Sunday morning following a Saturday launch. Early today, it fired its main thruster in order to start maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

"EchoStar XIV is a very powerful and complex satellite," said John Celli, president of Space Systems/Loral.

"Many people around the world depend on the reliability of Space Systems/Loral satellites every day, but our success is always a team effort. I'd like to thank the ILS/Proton, DISH Network and EchoStar teams, along with our many suppliers who worked diligently alongside us, to build and launch this exceptional spacecraft."

EchoStar XIV was launched from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services. When it reaches its final destination at 119 degrees West longitude, the satellite will become a part of the DISH Network fleet, providing direct broadcast services over the continental United States.

It will be used to provide expanded high definition (HD) services and added flexibility for DISH Network's more than 14 million direct-to-home (DTH) television subscribers.

EchoStar XIV is based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 space-proven platform, which provides the power and flexibility to support a broad range of applications.

EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C., a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, manages DISH Network's space programs and will begin in-orbit testing of the satellite later this month. With this launch, Space Systems/Loral now has 61 geostationary satellites currently on orbit.