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The Proton rocket lifted off at 7:49:30 a.m. in Baikonur (1:49:30 a.m. GMT, 6:49:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday, June 17). The Astra 1H satellite's first signals, indicating normal operation, were received about three hours after lift-off. The satellite separated from the launch vehicle about seven hours after lift-off. For the next week, Hughes will maneuver the satellite into its orbital position of 19.2 degrees East longitude, followed by about 30 days of in-orbit testing. Official acceptance and handover of the Astra 1H satellite to SES will follow.

Explains Romain Bausch, Director General and Chairman of the Management Committee of SES : "The ASTRA 1H Ka-band payload will enable exciting interactive enhancements to today's services. By adding wide-band satellite return path capabilities, the ASTRA system is embarking on providing services comparable to emerging terrestrial infrastructures like X-DSL and cable modems. The launch of Europe's first commercial Ka-band payload is also another important element in the establishment of SES' global satellite broadband network."

In addition to interactive media services, Astra 1H will also provide analog and digital television and radio services across Europe. The Astra 1H payload consists of eight uplink Ka-band channels and two active Ka-band downlink channels. The satellite also carries 30 Ku-band transponders. Astra also carries a xenon ion propulsion system, XIPS, which is ten times more efficient as conventional bipropellant systems and allows for a reduction of propellant mass of up to 90 percent.

"With Friday's successful launch, a seventh Hughes-built satellite will carry the Astra name," said Tig H. Krekel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Space and Communications Company. "We congratulate them on this latest addition to the SES fleet."

Hughes Space and Communications Company is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, and is also a major supplier of spacecraft and equipment to the United States government, and a builder of weather satellites. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.