Launched in 1996 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 148 degrees west for 12 or 15 years.

The launch of EchoStar I made use of an Ariane 4 rocket flying from Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

The launch took place at 00:59 UTC on September 11, 1996,[2] with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The spacecraft carried 16 Ku band transponders to enable direct broadcast communications and television channels through 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) dishes on the ground in the Contiguous United States.

This article about one or more spacecraft of the United States is a stub.