Ciel 2 Tracking

[photoman76]

I'm not sure about Echostar 10, but Echostar 11 was placed in service about 40 days after launch.

 

[nelson61]

Epoch : Approximately 9 AM Central Time 1/18

138W

Perigee: 35,786.7 km
Apogee: 35,801.2 km

 

[harshness]

But IIRC, Nimiq 4 does not have spot beams.

One site, skyrocket.de, says that Nimiq 4 has 8 Ka transponders that are spotbeamed. I'm not sure what they are used for unless it is some sort of distribution downlink.

 

[Jeff0575]

what is the estimated time that this will be into the 129 sat spot

 

[Laddyboy]

what is the estimated time that this will be into the 129 sat spot

Well Charlie has said in the past they expected it to be in operation at 129W by the end of January. Based on reports here in the forum, it hasn't seemed like there has been a whole lot of urgency in testing the satellite, a little beaming noticed here and there and that's about all. There would be a fairly long list of things to test with the multitude of spotbeams onboard and such. There is still time to get the beast over to 129W by the end of the month if that's what the plan is. It's only 9 degrees from the test location. If it hasn't moved by this time next week, it probably won't make it by the end of the month.

 

[HDRoberts]

One site, skyrocket.de, says that Nimiq 4 has 8 Ka transponders that are spotbeamed. I'm not sure what they are used for unless it is some sort of distribution downlink.

Provided they aren't intended for immediate use, those could have been tested in place. Since many of the Ciel-2 spotbeams need immediate use, they need tested.

The best comparison, as mentioned, would be E10, but it seems no one can remember how long to took to test that sat.

 

[nelson61]

Epoch : 7 PM Central Time 1/18

No movement

Perigee: 35,786.6 km
Apogee: 35,801.2 km

 

[jacmyoung]

Provided they aren't intended for immediate use, those could have been tested in place. Since many of the Ciel-2 spotbeams need immediate use, they need tested.

The best comparison, as mentioned, would be E10, but it seems no one can remember how long to took to test that sat.

Of course the satellite needs to be fully tested before the client will be willing to take it over. It would be stupid to have only half of it tested, then take it over, then try to test the other half later by the client themselves.

 

[space86]

what is the estimated time that this will be into the 129 sat spot

Soon.

 

[kstuart]

Ancient Chinese Proverb:

" A watched satellite never moves. "

 

[Shortfork]

Ancient Chinese Proverb:

" A watched satellite never moves. "

I was going to say, I've had more fun watching paint dry....



Wayne Sagar

 

[omeletpants]

So, here is a question for you. What happens to the old sat? Do they just send it off into orbit to a galaxy far, far away?

 

[redsalmon]

So, here is a question for you. What happens to the old sat? Do they just send it off into orbit to a galaxy far, far away?

It's suppose to move to the 148 location. Needed there to maintain a license, if nothing else.

 

[Rangers484]

So, here is a question for you. What happens to the old sat? Do they just send it off into orbit to a galaxy far, far away?

Charlie donates it to the kidney foundation and gets to claim book value as a tax deduction.

 

[JohnH]

Actually it is authorized to move to 148w and maintain some licemses vacated by the failure of EchoStar 2 there.

 

[jacmyoung]

Ancient Chinese Proverb:

" A watched satellite never moves. "

I had no idea ancient Chinese had satellites

 

[apollog]

Ciel 2 will move one day, I promise. I can even put that in writing if you like. Guaranteed!!!

 

[Fitzie]

Dish is a couple of weeks behind schedule with Ciel-2, for sure. Part of that is due to the launch delay I would think, and the rest of the delay probably relates to the complexity of the task. Barring any unknown filings with the FCC reporting trouble, which I don't think has happened, this is just a slow process. (Like pouring molasses from a bottle: you can see it happening, but you want to pound on it to make it happen faster.)

Assigning arbitrarily 2 to 4 days for transfer of current carriage from E5 to Ciel-2, we should be in pretty good shape for Feb. gain of HD early in the month if Ciel-2 reaches 129W by about 1-26-09. I'm looking for Ciel-2 movement within the next 2 days. (If not sooner.)

 

[Laddyboy]

Dish is a couple of weeks behind schedule with Ciel-2, for sure. Part of that is due to the launch delay I would think, and the rest of the delay probably relates to the complexity of the task. Barring any unknown filings with the FCC reporting trouble, which I don't think has happened, this is just a slow process. (Like pouring molasses from a bottle: you can see it happening, but you want to pound on it to make it happen faster.)

Assigning arbitrarily 2 to 4 days for transfer of current carriage from E5 to Ciel-2, we should be in pretty good shape for Feb. gain of HD early in the month if Ciel-2 reaches 129W by about 1-26-09. I'm looking for Ciel-2 movement within the next 2 days. (If not sooner.)

Today's the 20th so it'd have to start today if you want it there by the 26th and that's moving at 1.5 degrees per day which is an upbeat pace by satellite standards.

 

[nelson61]

Epoch : Approximately 9 PM Central Time 1/19

No movement

Perigee: 35,785.5 km
Apogee: 35,802.1 km