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Orbital-Built Intelsat-11 And Optus D2 Communications Satellites Successfully Launched
Dulles VA (SPX) Oct 09, 2007 Orbital Sciences , the world leader in smaller-sized geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellites, announced that two of its satellites were successfully launched into orbit during a mission that took place on Friday, October 5. The two satellites, Intelsat-11 (IS-11) and Optus D2, were delivered into their initial orbit by an Ariane 5 rocket launched from the European space launch complex located near the Equator in French Guiana. Results from early tests of the spacecraft conducted over the weekend indicate that both satellites are operating as planned for this phase of their missions. Friday's launch marked the first time that two of Orbital's GEO satellites were launched aboard the same rocket, an indication of the company's growing presence in the GEO satellite market. "We are very pleased with the early results from the mission, including the picture-perfect flight aboard the Ariane launch vehicle and the state of health of both satellites early in their missions," stated Mr. Carl Marchetto, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Orbital's Space Systems Group. During the next several days, both the IS-11 and Optus D2 spacecraft will perform a series of orbit-raising burns using their onboard rocket engines to achieve a circular orbit approximately 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) above the Earth. For several weeks afterwards, each of the mission engineering teams will conduct a comprehensive series of tests to ensure the spacecraft is ready for final hand-over to the customer.
Intelsat-11
Optus D2 Orbital's commercial satellite business has experienced rapid growth over the past several years. Including the five new orders the company has booked so far this year, Orbital currently has 10 commercial GEO satellites and five science and defense spacecraft in various stages of design, production and testing at its Dulles, VA satellite manufacturing facility. To accommodate this rapid rate of growth, earlier this year Orbital completed an expansion of its manufacturing plant that, together with other facility improvements, has increased its manufacturing throughput capacity by over 30% as compared to one year ago. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry
ESA Pays Tribute To 50 Years Of Space
Paris, France (ESA) Oct 05, 2007Fifty years ago today, on the night of 4 October, the first 'beep-beep' from Sputnik fell from the heavens and marked the beginning of a new era for the human race. Satellites and space probes have dramatically changed our way of living, they have turned the world into a global village where an unprecedented wealth of information is at hand anywhere, anytime. The world has shrunk, and our perception of our planet has changed too. Thanks to remote sensing and Earth observation, we can now take the pulse of our environment and devise politics based on an increasing knowledge of the way our world is evolving. |
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