Company News: Page (1) of 1 - 03/18/13

Sea Launch and EchoStar Reach Preliminary Agreement for Launch Services

(March 18, 2013)

Bern, Switzerland and Englewood, Colorado, March 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sea Launch AG and EchoStar Satellite Services, a
wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp. (NASDAQ: SATS), have
announced that Sea Launch has been identified as the intended
launch services provider for the launch of a satellite from the
ocean-based Odyssey launch platform in 2015.

Sea Launch's powerful Zenit-3SL vehicle is ideally suited for
launching heavyweight-class spacecraft, with multiple restart
capability and heavy-lift performance. Sea Launch's history
with EchoStar dates back to 2003. Most recently it launched the
EchoStar XI satellite.

Sergey Gugkaev, chief executive officer of Sea Launch,
said, "Sea Launch welcomes the opportunity to support EchoStar's
launch requirement in 2015." Kjell Karlsen, president of Sea
Launch, added, "We are pleased to extend our relationship with
EchoStar and we look forward to providing the required flexibility,
performance and diversity of supply necessary to support their
business plan."

"This preliminary agreement with Sea Launch provides EchoStar
with the flexibility we require to accommodate our launch
requirements as we undertake the expansion of our North American
fleet," said Anders Johnson, president of EchoStar Satellite
Services. "We have been pleased with Sea Launch's performance on
past missions and look forward to continued success."

About EchoStar Corporation

EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider
of satellite operations and video delivery solutions. EchoStar's
wholly-owned subsidiary, Hughes, is the world's leading provider of
satellite broadband services, delivering network technologies and
managed services for enterprise and government customers in more
than 100 countries.

Headquartered in Englewood, CO, with additional business units
world-wide, EchoStar is a multiple Emmy award-winning company that
has pioneered advancements in the set-top box and satellite
industries for over 30 years, consistently delivering value for
customers, partners and investors through innovation and
outstanding quality. EchoStar's contribution to video technology
continues to have a major influence on the way consumers view,
receive and manage TV programming.

EchoStar's consumer solutions include HughesNet®, North
America's #1 high-speed satellite Internet service, Sling Media's
Slingbox® products, and EchoStar's line of set-top box products for
the free satellite and terrestrial viewer markets.

About Sea Launch AG

Sea Launch AG provides launch solutions to the industry's
satellite operator community based on the Zenit launch system.
These services include the provision of all-inclusive launch
services incorporating schedule assurance, financing, risk
management; insurance and creative contracting solutions to meet
the changing demands of the commercial launch market. Sea Launch AG
owns and manages the primary technology, patent and other
intellectual property and tangible assets of the company. These
include the launch platform Odyssey and the Sea Launch
Commander vessels located in the Home Port facility in Long
Beach, California, and the unique know-how associated with
launching satellites from an ocean-based launch platform located
directly on the equator. The Sea Launch system offers the
most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for
commercial communications satellites, providing diversity of
supply, affordability and flexibility for the industry's satellite
operators. For more information, please visit the Sea Launch
website at: www.sea-launch.com.

####

CONTACT: For Sea Launch:
Peter Stier
+1(562) 499-4726
+41 31 380 00 08
peter.g.stier@sea-launch.com

For EchoStar:
Linda Haugsted
Bob Gold & Associates
+1(310) 320-2010
linda@bobgoldpr.com

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