Zenit launches XM satellite
Posted: Tue, Mar 1, 2005, 8:42 AM ET (1342 GMT)
A Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket successfully launched a replacement radio broadcasting satellite late Monday after nearly two weeks of delays. the Zenit 3SL lifted off from the floating Odyssey launch platform on the Equator in the Pacific Ocean at 10:51 pm EST Monday (0351 GMT Tuesday). Its payload, the XM-3 satellite, separated from the booster's upper stage an hour later after entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The launch had been scheduled for the middle of the month but was delayed first by poor weather and sea conditions at the launch site; a launch attempt last week was aborted in the final minutes of the countdown because of an unspecified technical issue. XM-3, a Boeing 702, will be placed in GEO at 85 degrees west. It will serve as a partial replacement for XM Satellite Radio's two existing satellites, XM-1 and -2; these Boeing 702 satellites were launched in 2001 but are losing power because of a solar power system flaw.
A Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket successfully launched a replacement radio broadcasting satellite late Monday after nearly two weeks of delays. the Zenit 3SL lifted off from the floating Odyssey launch platform on the Equator in the Pacific Ocean at 10:51 pm EST Monday (0351 GMT Tuesday). Its payload, the XM-3 satellite, separated from the booster's upper stage an hour later after entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The launch had been scheduled for the middle of the month but was delayed first by poor weather and sea conditions at the launch site; a launch attempt last week was aborted in the final minutes of the countdown because of an unspecified technical issue. XM-3, a Boeing 702, will be placed in GEO at 85 degrees west. It will serve as a partial replacement for XM Satellite Radio's two existing satellites, XM-1 and -2; these Boeing 702 satellites were launched in 2001 but are losing power because of a solar power system flaw.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force adds Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to NSSL contract
Posted: Sun, Mar 30 9:19 AM ET (1319 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 3
How a kid from Pemberton helped lead a landmark commercial Moon landing
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 6:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Eutelsat Begins OneWeb Services for the Aviation Market
ViaSatellite — 5:59 am ET (0959 GMT) Sierra Space demonstrates technology for Space Force satellite program
BizWest — 5:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Debrief: Vulcan On Deck
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) ULA Targets April 9 For First Batch Of Amazon Kuiper Satellites
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) |
