Wed, Dec 30, 2009
New Boeing DIRECTV 12 Satellite Delivers 1st Signals From
Space
Boeing has received the first on-orbit signals from DIRECTV 12
nine hours after launch, indicating that the satellite is healthy
and operating normally. DIRECTV 12 is a Boeing 702 commercial
satellite that will provide consumer television programming to
millions of US households (and that's a good thing... right?).
DIRECTV 12 lifted off on an International Launch Services Proton
Breeze M vehicle on Dec. 28 at 4:22 p.m. Pacific time from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Controllers at the ground
station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, reported spacecraft
acquisition at 1:38 a.m. Pacific time today.
"Yesterday's launch marks the 10th satellite Boeing has built
and launched for DIRECTV, as well as the 22nd Boeing 702 satellite
to fly in space," said Craig Cooning, Boeing vice president and
general manager of Space and Intelligence Systems. "We are pleased
that DIRECTV 12 is performing as planned and will continue to
support the satellite through on-orbit testing in the coming
months. From design and integration to launch and signal
acquisition, our team has ensured that DIRECTV's new 702 will help
them continue to deliver high-definition (HD) digital programming
while maintaining excellent quality service."
Handover of DIRECTV 12 is scheduled for early 2010. Together
with DIRECTV 10 and 11, the new satellite will help significantly
expand DIRECTV's HDTV broadcasting to consumers across the
contiguous United States, Hawaii and Alaska.
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