Echostar X NOW IN ORBIT! AND AQUIRED!

goaliebob99

SatelliteGuys Master
Original poster
Supporting Founder
Aug 5, 2004
14,486
520
-.-. .... .. -.-. .- --. ---
Echostar X NOW IN ORBIT! AND ACQUIRED!

Source: http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q1/060208d_nr.html

EchoStar X Launch Countdown Halted

Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 08, 2006 -- Sea Launch Company today halted the launch countdown of the EchoStar X mission due to an off-nominal indication from the Ground Support System.
Following the direction to stop the countdown, the launch team immediately implemented system safing and securing operations. The EchoStar X spacecraft and the Zenit-3SL vehicle are in excellent condition. The launch team is currently evaluating the issue to determine a corrective action and a schedule for the next launch opportunity.
Sea Launch will provide additional information, as available, on the Sea Launch website and recorded on the Sea Launch Hot Line at 800.995.4123.
The EchoStar X satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems in Pennsylvania and then assembled in Sunnyvale, California. The high-power Ku band A2100-AX spacecraft is designed to deliver direct-to-home broadcast services to DISH Network customers throughout the United States. This direct broadcast system is optimized to provide additional bandwidth and, used in conjunction with other EchoStar satellites, EchoStar X will enable the DISH Network to expand its customer services and channel offerings.
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is the world's most reliable heavy-lift commercial launch service. This international partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. For additional information, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com
###
 
*** NOTICE ***

Despite the failure to successfully launch E-10, Dish is still going to de-activate all locals on 105 & 121 on schedule. Dish installers will be sent to your locations to upgrade all of your dishes to the D1000, for a reasonable $99 fee, and your receivers to MPEG4 compatible models, or at least to whatever models that Dish has in stock.

Your service to SD and HD locals will resume whenever Dish is able to get E-10 up and working. Please monitor your EPG for further developments.

Your Dish Customer Service Team
 
Tom Bombadil said:
*** NOTICE ***

Despite the failure to successfully launch E-10, Dish is still going to de-activate all locals on 105 & 121 on schedule. Dish installers will be sent to your locations to upgrade all of your dishes to the D1000, for a reasonable $99 fee, and your receivers to MPEG4 compatible models, or at least to whatever models that Dish has in stock.

Your service to SD and HD locals will resume whenever Dish is able to get E-10 up and working. Please monitor your EPG for further developments.

Your Dish Customer Service Team

A smilely face would be appropriate in your post.:D Some folks may think you are serious.
 
Does anybody know what would happen to the international channels on 121? Are they planning to move them to D1000?
 
Maybe they will have to go back to port without a launch. They lowered the rocket today. Drats!
 

Attachments

  • Echostar X.jpg
    Echostar X.jpg
    25.8 KB · Views: 345
thats not a good sign..... maybe they can go to hawaii and get what ever they need fixed there :)

also as long as there taking..... echo 11 will be ready to launch.. :)
 
Last edited:
ReconPJ said:
I still think it blew up

OK that much fuel would have blown the whole rig up.

The sea launch site states its a problem with the platform. Which could be a mechanical glitch in any system or a structural problem with the platform it self.

My guess is a mechanical failure of some sort that would seriously affect the launch. The lowering of the rocket could be a variety of issues related to the glitch or not related at all. They said the next window was a few days away. Maybe bad weather is coming.
 
Depending on the length of the delay, they will defuel the launch vehicle and place it back in the environmentally controller hanger onboard the launch platform. Plus something that big is more stable laying horizional than it is standing vertically.
 
"After halting the countdown for launch on February 8, Sea Launch is now preparing for the launch of the EchoStar X satellite on Sunday, February 12, at the opening of a 49-minute launch window, at 3:35pm PST (23:35 GMT). On this mission, Sea Launch will insert the 4333 kg (9,553 lb) communications satellite into a high perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit."

Take 2!
 
Sea Launch Re-Starts Countdown for EchoStar X Launch

Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 10, 2006 -- After a halt in the countdown for launch on February 8, Sea Launch is now preparing for a second launch attempt on Sunday, February 12, with liftoff planned for 3:35pm PST (23:35 GMT).
The Zenit-3SL rocket is now erect on the launch pad, and preparations are underway at the launch site. On launch day, the rocket will lift the 4,333 kg (9,553 lb.) EchoStar X satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on the way to its final orbital position of 110 degrees West Longitude.
"We understand the ground support system issue we observed during countdown last Wednesday and we are confident that our corrective action will support a successful liftoff on Sunday," said Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch.
This is Sea Launch's second mission for EchoStar and its first mission with a Lockheed Martin spacecraft. Built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, the high-power Ku Band A2100-AX spacecraft is designed with a minimum service life of 15 years on orbit. Optimized with additional bandwidth for direct broadcast applications, EchoStar X is a new-generation satellite that will enable DISH Network to deliver expanded television services and channel offerings to its customers throughout the United States.
Sea Launch will carry a live satellite feed and streaming video of the entire mission, beginning at 3:15 pm PT (23:15 GMT) on Feb. 12. Transponder coordinates for downlinking this feed are posted at:www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html. A simultaneous webcast may be accessed at: www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html.

Source: http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q1/060210b_nr.html
 
The sea-launch website says that the launch will be televised on Dishnetwork channel 101. The Boeing site says that the launch will also be broadcast here:

Day of Air: Sunday, February 12, 2006

Time: 1745 - 2100 ET apx 30
Schedule: 1745 - 1815 ET = TEST WINDOW ( 2:45p - 3:15p PT)
1815 - 2030 ET apx 30 = LIVE BROADCAST ( 3:15p - 5:30p PT apx 30)
2030 - 2100 ET apx 30 = VNR PLAYOUT ( 5:30p - 6p PT apx 30 )
(Launch window = 3:35p PT / 1835 ET / 2335 GMT)
Satellite: AMC-2 ANALOG Ku-band
Transponder: 01 (one)
Orbital Slot: 85 (eighty five) degrees West Longitude
Downlink Frequency: 11720 MHz Vertical
Audios: 6.2 and 6.8 subcarriers: English
Standard: 525 NTSC