Energy News  
Spaceway 2 Is Readied For Its Launch On Ariane 5


Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Oct 26, 2005
Preparations for Arianespace's next dual-payload Ariane 5 mission have marked another important step with the fueling of DirecTV's Spaceway 2 satellite at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Spaceway 2 has a liftoff mass of approximately 5,990 kg. and will be carried with the 1,930-kg. Telkom 2 spacecraft on a mission utilizing the increased-performance capabilities of Arianespace's heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA launcher.

Spaceway 1 and Spaceway 2 will have the capacity for more than 500 local HD channels. With these satellites, DirecTV will have the ability to bring local HD programming to most of the U.S. population, as well as continuing to expand standard-definition local offerings and other enhancements.

The next two satellites, DirecTV 10 and DirecTV 11, will launch in early 2007. These satellites will have the capacity for more than 1,000 additional local HD channels, more than 150 national HD channels, and other new programming offerings.

These satellites will provide DirecTV the capability to bring local and national HD programming and other advanced services to every U.S. household. Consumers will be able to receive all of these services, as well as existing DirecTV programming, with a single small satellite dish.

DirecTV 10 and DirecTV 11, to be built by Boeing, will be among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites ever launched.

The satellites, which will take advantage of DirecTV's advanced transmission techniques and state-of-the-art video compression technology, will deliver national HD programming and will be capable of supporting spot beams carrying local HD broadcast channels in all 50 states.

Boeing will also build a third satellite for DirecTV that will serve as a ground spare.

Earlier this year, DirecTV introduced the DirecTV HD DVR, the most advanced DVR in the world. The DirecTV HD DVR enables consumers to record and play back HD programming, record a show while watching another or record two shows simultaneously.

It seamlessly supports all these features for HDTV transmissions, standard-definition programming and off-air ATSC broadcasts, all through an integrated advanced program guide. The DirecTV HD DVR allows customers to record more than 30 hours of HD programming or up to 200 hours of standard-definition programming.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
DirecTV
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Soyuz To Launch Radarsat-2
Evry, France (SPX) Jan 11, 2006
Starsem announced Monday the signing of a contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) for the launch of MDA's RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite by a Soyuz launch vehicle.







  • Analysis: Gazprom's U.S. Road Show
  • Wind Farm To Be Built Off Galveston Island
  • NASA Announces Results From Beam & Tether Challenges
  • Scientists Synthesize Cheap, Easy-to-Make Ultra-thin Photovoltaic Films

  • Feds Unveil Yucca Mountain Cleanup Plans
  • US Congress Wants Landmark Nuclear Deal With India To Be Transparent
  • India Calls For Action Against Nuclear Proliferators
  • France Announces Part-Privatisation Of Energy Giant EDF

  • Getting To The TOPP Of Houston's Air Pollution
  • Scientists Seek Sprite Light Source



  • Farm Talks Collapse In Geneva
  • Defeating The 'Superpests'
  • Crop Scientists Improve "Supergrain" For Impoverished Farmers
  • Gourmet Space Dinner On Greenland Icecap

  • GM Hires Russian Nuclear Scientists To Develop New Auto Technology
  • Japan Creates The World's Fastest Electric Sedan
  • Motorists To Pay 'Congestion' Charge Over Broader Swath Of London
  • Solar Cars Driving Towards A Hydrogen Future

  • Pentagon Announces Possible Pilot Training Contract With Taiwan
  • US Forced Israel To Freeze Venezuelan F-16 Contract: Ministry
  • Wright Brothers Upstaged! Dinos Invented Biplanes
  • Boeing Awarded Common Bomber Mission Planning Enterprise Contract

  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program
  • Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems

  • 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