Sea Launch successfully delivered an XM-4 broadcast satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) yesterday. Early data indicate the spacecraft is accurately positioned and in excellent condition.
The XM Satellite, a Boeing 702, carries a high-power S-band Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) payload provided by Alcatel Alenia Space.
Like the three XM satellites currently in orbit, XM-4 will support XM Radio’s direct broadcast of digital radio programming to cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and Canada. Space Systems/Loral is building XM-5, their ground spare.
XM-4 has a number of upgrades including a bi-propellant back up to its Xenon Ion Propulsion System (XIPS). Equipped with advanced triple junction solar cells, the satellite is designed to generate 18 kilowatts of power at start of service and 15.5 kilowatts at the end of its 15-year design life. The satellite’s improved power could provide more robust reception for portable devices.
This is Sea Launch’s fourth successful launch for XM Satellite Radio, completing previous missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005. XM-4 will replace two co-located XM satellites at 115 degrees.
XM had a problem with the first two. XM 1 and 2 (Rock and Roll), were deployed in 2001 before Boeing engineers discovered a crippling design flaw that degrades the power-generating capacity. XM 3 and 4 spacecraft (Rhythm and Blues) are revised models designed to replace their two predecessors. In July 2004, XM reached agreement with insurers that covered 80% of the amount insured or about $142 million. SpaceFlight Now and Orbitcast have additional details.
Alcatel Alenia Space, the result of a merger between Paris and Rome-based companies, continues to reap the benefits of its decision to build satellites that have no components subject to U.S. State Department export approval. That leaves Alcatel free to serve the Chinese market virtually by itself, and resulted in the Chinasat 6B satellite contract.
In other space news, a Chinese rocket launched a direct broadcast satellite last Saturday. A Long March 3B rocket placed the SinoSat-2 spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit where it will supply DBS service thoughout the country at 92.2 degrees east. With 22 Ku-band transponders on board, SINOSAT-2 is the first spacecraft based on China’s domestic high power satellite bus.
The launch comes just four days after a Long March 4B vehicle carried two Shijian 6 space experiment satellites into orbit, and marks the 93rd launch by China.
DailyWireless has more on Antennas In Space, Satellite Jam, Eutelsat HotBird 8, HDTV from Aircraft, China/US Space News, and MediaFLO Gets Satellite Backbone.
.gif)
