Spaceway 2 at 99 Degrees Update?

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OneBigJedi

SatelliteGuys Guru
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Dec 12, 2005
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Does anyone have an update on when Spaceway 2 is go to be in geostationary obrit? LyngSat SatTracker has just been saying for the past 10 on data available.
 
According to NORAD, Spaceway 2 is in a "geostationary orbit" in that it orbits the earth every 1436 minutes (one day) but not yet in what you and I would consider as truly geostationary (over its parking spot at 99 degrees.)

It seems to be very close to its parking spot with an orbit that takes it from roughly 101 degrees to 84 degrees, IIRC. I'm guessing they are letting it drift as close as possible to its parking orbit before they use fuel to park it.

Other reports have indicated that during this time the solar panels are unfolded and some tests are run as well.

I plan to keep an eye on the NORAD updates until Lyngsat finds its feed again.

Cheers,
Tom
 
Today's NORAD data fed into SatScape puts Spaceway 2 in a narrower orbit ranging from 99.05W to 91W, .11N to .11S, and 23,160mi. to 21,300mi above ground. It seems to be getting closer to final parking orbit. Based on the orbit time changes, seems that they've been firing thrusters daily, i presume to tweak into parking orbit.

Cheers,
Tom
 
tibber said:
Today's NORAD data fed into SatScape puts Spaceway 2 in a narrower orbit ranging from 99.05W to 91W, .11N to .11S, and 23,160mi. to 21,300mi above ground. It seems to be getting closer to final parking orbit. Based on the orbit time changes, seems that they've been firing thrusters daily, i presume to tweak into parking orbit.

Cheers,
Tom

please provide links to these sites ur getting this info from
 
Great guesses, charper1. Satscape is correct.

NORAD data is via Space Track: http://www.space-track.org. One needs to register to get data from them, but its the source that everyone uses (if I understand correctly.)

The other place you can get data is http://celestrak.com/. They get feeds couple of times a day and now list spaceway 2.

I tried NASA's site cuz its way cool, but they don't list either of the Spaceway birds.

Cheers,
Tom
 
Spaceway 2 (nearly?) Parked!

According to this morning's NORAD data, Spaceway 2 is in the right orbital slot and at the right altitude. Its bouncing a bit north and south still, but handoff to D* must be close!

Cheers,
Tom
 
SPACEWAY F2 is finally at its orbital slot of 99 degrees. We should have a announcement coming soon of Directv's aquisition from Boeing hopefully!
 
Ok guys dumb question of the day. Does this satellite enable D* to provide more HD programming? Does it enable D* to continue with the locals roll out? My guess its a little of both, but Im looking for a more educated opinion on this one.
 
1 at 72.5 (D*1)
1 at 99 (Spaceway 2)
4 at 101 (D* 1R, 2, 4S, 8)
1 at 103 (Spaceway 1)
2 at 110 (D*5, 6)
1 at 119 (D* 7S)

Plus they use Galaxy 3C for programming from 95.

List here: http://lyngsat.com/tracker/america.html

Plus they plan to launch D* 9S, 10, 11 in 2007. Plus D*12 will be an on-ground spare.
 
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Because both Spaceway sats were originally design for High Speed Internet by Spacway (Hughes Internet - http://www.spaceway.com) but was slightly modified to provided MPEG4 Local HD instead. Thus the name SW1 & 2 never changed!
 
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wied said:
Why did direct switch from using DirectTV 1... to Spaceway 1...? Does it have something to do with change of ownership, or change in signal(DBS/FSS)?
Change in ownership mainly. When D* was bought from Hughes Electronics, D* negotiated, and got, the first 2 of 4 Spaceway satellites. The Spaceways were all new designs with phased arrays and steerable beams. And D* got them as Hughes really wanted out of the satellite business. D* had never really made a profit, so Hughes let them go.
 
Wouldn't you think it has more to do with WHO builds them and what naming rights might be agreed to. Even well after the ownership change DIRECTV 10, 11 and 12, built by Boeing, will be slated to go up in 2007 and will still carry that DirecTV naming.

Posting alternate Lyngsat lists, that one above is the satellite tracker.

NA list by freq: http://www.lyngsat.com/america.html

NA list with package/chnl info: http://lyngsat.com/packages/america.html
 
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Just wondering any update on this? When I checked my H20 that degree is N/A and does not even scan for that sat. It looks like right now it is locked out on the box to see if it is working.
 
there will be a press release once Boeing hands SW2 over to D* - probably not really worth checking until then...
 
IMO its unimportant. Who cares when it gets turned over. Its spot beam and will be used for locals. NO ONE who already gets OTA will get any more OTA channels, infact they will probably get less with HDLIL vs their antenna. I suppose if you cant get OTA it matters but other than that I could give a rats ass. Get the national CONUS bird up and give us something new to watch. :rolleyes:
 
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herdfan said:
1 at 72.5 (D*1)
1 at 99 (Spaceway 2)
4 at 101 (D* 1R, 2, 4S, 8)
1 at 103 (Spaceway 1)
2 at 110 (D*5, 6)
1 at 119 (D* 7S)

Plus they use Galaxy 3C for programming from 95.

List here: http://lyngsat.com/tracker/america.html

Plus they plan to launch D* 9S, 10, 11 in 2007. Plus D*12 will be an on-ground spare.

All of those birds and E* is still taking their lunch in HD.
 
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