BONUM-1 Successfully Launched.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 1998--The BONUM-1 television satellite for Russia was successfully launched tonight following delays beginning on Thursday, Nov. 19.

This was the ninth launch of the year for a spacecraft built by Hughes Space and Communications Company of Los Angeles.

Liftoff was at 6:54 p.m. EST (+5 hours GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Station aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket. The spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle 73 minutes later. At 9:35 p.m. EST, Hughes satellite controllers received BONUM-1's first signals, confirming that it is operating normally.

BONUM-1 is an HS 376HP (for high-power) spin-stabilized satellite built for the BONUM-1 subsidiary of Media Most, a major private Moscow media group that also owns NTV, the largest television network in Russia. The BONUM-1 spacecraft will deliver direct-to-home television programming by NTV-Plus to the European part of Russia, selectable on-orbit by ground command. NTV-Plus is another Media Most subsidiary and the largest Russian DTH TV network.

Hughes built the satellite, arranged for launch services, and provided ground station control equipment and controller training. The ground control station is located in Moscow, owned and operated by BONUM-1.

The BONUM-1 satellite carries eight active Ku-band transponders, powered by 75-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. As a result of digital compression technology, it will be capable of providing up to 50 channels. The satellite uses gallium arsenide solar cells to generate 1500 watts of spacecraft power at beginning of life. It is designed to operate for 11 years and will be located at 36 degrees East longitude.

The reliable and versatile HS 376 is one of the world's most purchased commercial communications satellite models. BONUM-1 was the 53rd of this model to be launched, and the 47th satellite to be delivered in orbit on a rocket procured by Hughes on behalf of its customers.

Hughes Space and Communications is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial geosynchronous communications satellites. It also is a major supplier of spacecraft for communications and space exploration to the U.S. government, and has built weather satellites for the United States and Japan. It 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.