|
||
|
Sea Launch to Attempt Launch XM-3 Today |
||
|
Feb. 28/Satnews Daily/ — Preparations for the launch of XM Satellite Radio's XM-3 spacecraft are now underway after Sea Launch officials announced liftoff at the opening of a one-hour launch window at 7:51 pm PST today, Feb. 28 (GMT 03:51, Mar. 1).
A launch attempt was made on Feb. 23, Wednesday, but the Russian rocket Zenit-ZSL broke down five minutes before the launch, according to an ITAR-TASS report that quoted an official at the Russian Mission Control Centre outside Moscow. According to the Mission Control Center spokesman, an automatic blocking system went off shortly before the launch.
Initially, the launch was to take place on Thursday, Feb. 17 and later Friday, Feb. 18, but launch officials postponed the flight because of strong sea currents and winds in the area of the Odyssey oceanic platform at 154 degrees West.
XM-3 was manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems and is based on that company's 702 platform. XM-3 is the tenth Boeing 702 manufactured by Boeing in El Segundo, Calif. Like its sister spacecraft, XM-1 and XM-2, XM-3 will transmit more than 130 channels of digital-quality music, news, sports, talk, comedy and children’s programming to subscribers across the continental United States.
The Zenit-3SL launch vehicle will liftoff from the Odyssey Launch Platform and insert the XM-3 commercial digital radio broadcast satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit at 85 degrees West. Sea Launch said the spacecraft, fully fueled at the time of launch, will weigh approximately 4703 kg (10,346 lbs).
Recent Stories: Sea Launch To Orbit XM-3 Today Sea Launch Cancels Launch of XM-3 Satellite Scandinavian Airlines and Connexion by Boeing Launch In-Flight Internet Access to Seattle Passengers |
||
