China to launch Hughes-built ChinaSat 7.

XICHANG, Sichuan Province, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 1996-- The first U.S.-built communications satellite designed to serve mainland China is set to be launched here this weekend.

The satellite is ChinaSat 7, an HS 376 model built by Hughes Space and Communications Co. (HSC) for the China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corp. (ChinaSat). Launch is scheduled for Sunday (Aug. 18) aboard a Long March 3 rocket from the Xichang space center in southwestern China.

There are two launch windows, each about an hour long. The first opens at 6:25 p.m. Beijing time (3:25 a.m. PDT, 10:25 a.m. GMT), and the second at 8:54 p.m. Beijing (5:54 a.m. PDT, 12:54 p.m. GMT).

In common with most other HS 376 models, ChinaSat 7 will have 24 active transponders. The satellite is expected to operate 10 years, carrying voice, fax, data, television and other general communications services in C-band across China and parts of Southeast Asia.

ChinaSat is the leading domestic civil telecommunications satellite operator and a division of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. It ordered the satellite from Hughes last year. Hughes not only built the new satellite, but also arranged for the launch and will perform the transfer orbit mission services.

As with many of its satellite contracts, Hughes trained the customer's satellite controllers and provided ground equipment.

HSC is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, having built more than 40 percent of those in operation. HSC is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

CONTACT: Hughes Space and Communications Co., Los Angeles

Fran Slimmer, 310/364-6363