WASHINGTON, DC, May 4, 1999 - Ellipso, Inc. today announced that Ambassador (retired) Richard R. Burt has been elected to its Board of Directors.  Amb. Burt has had a long and distinguished career in the fields of finance and diplomacy, serving as the U.S Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 1985 to 1989.  He is currently serving as Chairman, IEP Advisors, Inc., a financial/business advisory services firm, and as International Director of the government affairs firm Barbour, Griffith and Rogers.

"With the election of Ambassador Burt to the Ellipso Board of Directors," said Dr. David Castiel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ellipso, Inc.  "we are continuing the process of increasing the depth of telecommunications and financial experience.  I look forward to Ambassador Burt bringing a fresh perspective and new ideas to Ellipso."

"The Ellipso system is one of the most interesting telecommunication ideas that I have come across over the years." said Amb. Burt.  "I am looking forward to both sharing my knowledge and also learning from the talented Ellipso team."

In conjunction with his role at IEP Advisors, Amb. Burt serves as Chairman of the Board of Weirton Steel, and is on the Boards of Hollinger International, Archer Daniels Midland and Homestake Mining. In addition, he is a member of the Textron Corporation's International Advisory Council.

Prior to the formation of IEP, Amb. Burt was a partner with McKinsey & Company, specializing in international business strategy and telecommunications.  He was the Chief Negotiator in the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START).  Amb. Burt graduated from Cornell University with his Bachelor's Degree in Government, and his Master's Degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.  Upon receiving his M.A., he participated as an Advanced Research Fellow at the U.S. Naval War College.

Ellipso, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., is currently designing and constructing the Ellipso(tm) satellite-based global communications system that will provide low cost and high quality digital voice and data services worldwide.  Utilizing unique and patented elliptical orbits, the Ellipso(tm) system will provide voice, data, facsimile, paging and geolocational services to subscribers around the world at prices significantly lower than competing systems.  The Ellipso(tm) project includes the participation of The Boeing Company, the system integrator and space segment prime contractor; the Harris Corporation, manufacturer of the Ellipso(tm) spacecraft's communication payload; Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, developer and manufacturer of the Ellipso(tm) ground control stations; and L-3 Communications, provider of the digital communications technology.