HUGHES SPACE AND COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Communications and Customer Relations P.O. Box 92919 (S10/S323) Los Angeles, CA 90009 Media Relations (310) 364-6363 Investor Relations (310) 662-9688 www.hughespace.com

Liftoff was at 8:35 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Station aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket. The spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle 90 minutes later. At 12:35 a.m. EDT today, Hughes satellite controllers received Thor III's first signals, confirming that it is operating normally.

Thor III is an HS 376HP (for high-power) spin-stabilized satellite. Hughes also built Thor I, which was purchased in orbit in 1992 from British Sky Broadcasting, and Thor II, which was launched May 20, 1997. The fleet of three HS 376 satellites will deliver direct-to-home television programming, plus radio broadcasting and telephony/data services to Scandinavia and central and eastern Europe. Thor III carries 14 active Ku-band transponders, powered by 47-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. The satellite uses gallium arsenide solar cells to generate more than 1400 watts of spacecraft power. It is designed to operate for 11.5 years and will be collocated with Thor I and II at Telenor's Nordic Hot-Bird site at 1 degree West longitude.

Thor III is the 51st spacecraft to be launched in the popular and reliable HS 376 series. Hughes is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial 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.