Sea Launch, a private company based in Long Beach, California is currently preparing to launch a new satellite for DIRECTVThe launch of DIRECTV 11 is scheduled to take place on March 17th, at about 4PM Pacific Time. Live coverage of the launch will be available via the Sea Launch website.
The launch will take place from the Pacific Ocean, from a Sea Launch platform near the equator. After exiting the atmosphere, the satellite will be placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Final positioning will place the satellite in geostationary orbit at 99.2 degrees West Longitude, about 22,236 miles above the Earth.
DIRECTV 11 will expand upon the satellite TV provider’s already formidable HD channel lineup. Combined with DIRECTV 10, already in orbit, the company expects to have capacity for up to 150 HD channels, and up to 1,500 local HD channels on the docket.
DIRECTV 11 was built by Boeing, and is a monster.Coming in at over 6 tons, or 13,.058 pounds to be exact, this will be the fourth satellite mission that Sea Launch has performed for DIRECTV. Sea Launch has also sent satellites up for Dish Network and XM satellite radio.
Dish Network has its own satellite going up as well. The Americom-14, or AMC-14 is scheduled to go up from Kazakhstan on March 15th. Dish Network expects to have 100 HD channels by year-end.
You might also enjoy...
