Long Beach, Calif., October 24, 2006 –The Sea Launch team has initiated a 72-hour countdown in preparation for the launch of the XM-4 broadcast satellite on October 26. Liftoff is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window at 4:49 pm Pacific Daylight Time (23:49 GMT).
With launch site operations underway at 154 degrees West Longitude on the Equator, the Sea Launch Commander is now stationed alongside the Odyssey, periodically connected by a "link bridge" during launch preparations. Tomorrow, a day before launch, the team will erect the Zenit-3SL rocket onto the launch pad. Final tests on the launch system and the spacecraft will lead up to the terminal count for liftoff.
The launch platform will be evacuated, with all personnel positioned on the ship, three miles uprange from the platform, during final preparations for liftoff. At launch, the rocket will lift the 5,193 kg (11,448 lbs.) XM-4 satellite to an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude.
Built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center, the Boeing 702 spacecraft 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 broadcast XM's radio programming to over 7 million subscribers in cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and Canada.
The XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit. Specified for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is designed to yield additional years of service life. This is Sea Launch's fourth launch for XM Satellite Radio, successfully completing previous missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.
Sea Launch will carry live satellite feed and streaming video of the XM-4 mission, beginning at 4:35 pm PDT (23:35 GMT). Transponder coordinates for downlinking this feed will be posted at: www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html. A simultaneous webcast may be viewed at: www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html.
About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is the most reliable commercial launch services provider. 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 schedule assurance. Sea Launch offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. For additional information and images about the mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com
###
Contact: Paula Korn, 562.499.4729 or 562.254.5684 (mobile), paula.korn@sea-launch.com
During launch operations, please contact our News Center at 562.951.7088 or 562.951.7388.
|
