Sea Launch
Successfully Delivers EchoStar XI To Orbit
(16 July 2008) Sea Launch Company has
successfully launched the EchoStar XI broadcast satellite from its ocean-based
platform on the Equator, marking its fourth successful mission of 2008 and its
third mission for DISH Network.
A Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at
10:21pm PDT on July 15 (5:21 GMT, July 16) from the Odyssey Launch Platform,
positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude. One hour later, the Block DM-SL upper
stage inserted the 5,511 kg (12,150 lb) EchoStar XI satellite into
geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 110
degrees West Longitude. Operators at the Gnangara ground station in Perth,
Australia, acquired the spacecraft's first signals from orbit shortly after
spacecraft separation. All systems performed nominally throughout the
mission.
"Congratulations to DISH Network, and to Space Systems/Loral
for tonight's outstanding success," said Kjell Karlsen, president and general
manager of Sea Launch. "We're proud of our role in DISH Network's continued
success. We thank you for your continued trust and confidence in our system and
our team. I also want to thank the Sea Launch team, the Sea Launch partners,
and all the suppliers and contractors around the world who support
us."
Built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the EchoStar XI spacecraft is
designed for an orbital service life of 15 years, with 20kW of power to support
the expansion of DISH Network's capacity and capabilities to customers
throughout the United States.
"For the third mission in a row, Sea
Launch has successfully launched a satellite for DISH Network, and we are
thrilled to add our eleventh high-power satellite to our fleet," said Rohan
Zaveri, vice president of Space Programs for DISH Network. "We look forward to
beginning testing and ultimately enhancing our already extensive, high quality
programming line-up."
About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch
Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and
cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications
satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust
Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit,
offering best value plus optimised spacecraft orbital delivery. Sea Launch also
offers launch services for medium weight satellites, Land Launch, which
initiates missions from the Baikonur Space Center in
Kazakhstan.
(source: Sea Launch)
