 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sea Launch Delivers Inmarsat-4 Satellite To Orbit
Long Beach CA (SPX) Nov 09, 2005 Sea Launch Company Wednesday successfully delivered the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) communications satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Early data indicate the spacecraft is in excellent condition. A Zenit-3SL vehicle lifted off at 6:07 am PT (14:07 GMT), from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude. All systems performed nominally throughout the flight. The Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the 5,958 kg (13,108 lb.) satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position of 53 degrees West Longitude. A ground station at Lake Cowichan, in British Columbia, acquired the first signal from the satellite less than 25 minutes after spacecraft separation, as planned. Inmarsat-4 is designed to provide high-speed mobile service to people throughout the Americas during its 13-year service life. It is one in a series of satellites designed to support the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) for high-speed delivery of Internet and intranet content and solutions, video-on-demand, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail, phone and LAN access. One of a family of three similar spacecraft, this Inmarsat-4 F2 satellite carries a single global beam that covers up to a third of the Earth's surface, 19 wide spot beams and 228 narrow spot beams. It has a total end-of-life power of 13kW. Following acquisition of the spacecraft's signal, Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch, congratulated Inmarsat and EADS Astrium. "We have marked several milestones in this mission such as our first mission for Inmarsat and our first European-built spacecraft, and our successful mission is the most significant milestone of all! Our customer is satisfied that we have met all of their requirements," Maser said. "Once again, we have done what we said we would do. We look forward to future missions with Inmarsat as well as with EADS Astrium. I want to thank every member of the Sea Launch team for making this mission success possible." Andrew Sukawaty, Chairman and Chief Executive of Inmarsat, said, "We thank the team at Sea Launch for this innovative and highly professional launch. Years of preparation have come together. With the launch of our second I-4 satellite, we look forward to offering up to half megabit internet connection covering up to 90% of the Earth's land mass � truly Broadband for a mobile planet." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Inmarsat Sea Launch Company SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Satellite Constellation - multiple satellite deployments in LEO and Beyond
XM Canada Launches Canada's First Satellite Radio Service
Toronto ON (SPX) Nov 24, 2005XM Canada Tuesday announced the launch of Canada's first satellite radio service with an exclusive offer to its Founders Club members to purchase XM satellite radios and sign-up for service on-line starting Tuesday. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
