Echostar 7 carries 32 Ku-band transponders capable of operating at 120 watts per channel, which are switchable to 16 transponders capable of operating at 240 watts per channel. The 4027 kg (8876 lbm) direct broadcast satellite was built by Lockheed Martin using the A2100AX spacecraft bus. Five transponder frequencies may also be used in a spot beam mode for a potential total of 15 spot beams.
The EchoStar 7 telecommunications satellite was launched Feb. 21, 2002 using an Atlas IIIB rocket. It is a direct-broadcast satellite in geosynchronous transfer orbit.