HUGHES' FIRST SATELLITE LAUNCH OF YEAR TO BE FOR BRAZIL

HUGHES SPACE AND COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
Communications and Customer Relations
P.O. Box 92919 (S10/S323)
Los Angeles, CA 90009
(310) 364-6363
www.hughespace.com

HUGHES' FIRST SATELLITE LAUNCH OF YEAR TO BE FOR BRAZIL (photo)

KOUROU, French Guiana, Jan. 26, 1998 -- The Brasilsat B-3 satellite has arrived at this South American space center, where Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC) technicians are preparing for their first launch of the year. The spacecraft is scheduled for liftoff aboard an Arianespace Ariane 44LP rocket Friday, Jan. 30.

This mission kicks off a busy 1998 schedule with as many as 16 Hughes spacecraft to be launched for commercial and government customers from four sites around the world.

Brasilsat B-3 is an HS 376W spin-stabilized communications satellite, similar to the HSC-built Brasilsat B-1 and B-2 spacecraft now in orbit. EMBRATEL, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's leading telecommunications company, operates the satellites. Promon Engenharia SA of Sao Paulo shared in the ground station engineering work.

Like the other spacecraft, Brasilsat B-3 is a general communications satellite, carrying voice, data, corporate networks and television over 28 C-band transponders. The satellite is expected to operate for more than 12 years. It has one beam for national service, and a second regional beam that focuses higher power on the major urban areas.

The launch is set for 8:29 p.m. at the launch site, or 3:29 p.m. PST and 23:29 GMT. The previous Brasilsat B satellites also rode on Ariane rockets -- B-1 on Aug. 10, 1994, and B-2 on March 28, 1995.

Los Angeles-based Hughes is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial geostationary communications satellites, having built nearly 40 percent of those in operation. HSC is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

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