Thanks, nelson61, for getting this new tracking thread going with regard to Ciel-2.
Charlie Ergen on the Chat speculated that Ciel-2 might be operational by the end of the month. So, what are the possible events that would lead to his comment?
As we know, testing of the satellite can begin 10 days after launch, which would be December 20. To be in place for the testing to begin on that schedule, Ciel-2 would probably need to be at or about 138W for final positioning a day or 2 quicker--perhaps on the 18th December.
The testing then would take only about 6 days, to allow 5 days for the move from 138 to 129 by Dec. 31. My first question, is what is it about 138 that would allow Charlie to think the testing could be concluded in as little as 6 days? My answer, to myself, is that of angle. Thinking of the equator as a string, and the sat. locations at 129 and 138 as strings on the bead, the angle from each of them to the destination (i.e., the US and Canada) is not that different from one to the other. During and after the move from 138 to 129, only minor changes of inclination, etc. would be needed. As a result, minor touch up moves would take a very short time. Assuming the preceding, the earliest satellite signals could be sent would be about Dec. 31, but more probably a date of about Jan. 3, 2009. The latest signal launch date expected under this scenario would be Jan. 10.
As has been noted on this forum, E* has requested permission to move the current 129W sat. (E5) from its location beginning on Jan. 15, 2009. This would allow 5 additional days for shakedown from the 10th, assuming full signal distribution on that date. It is also possible that some migration of signal distribution from E5 to Ciel-2 would occur over a period of days, rather than all at once.
Charlie would probably like to broadcast the BCS bowl on Ciel-2, starting the year out with a bang. The first ten days of January should be exciting.
Fitzie