DirecTV-10 Satellite Beams Home First Signals from Space
DirecTV-10 satellite. (BSS photo)
ST. LOUIS, July 9, 2007 - Satnews Daily - The DirecTV-10 satellite launched recently from Baikonur has sent its first on-orbit signals to the Boeing Mission Control Center in El Segundo, California, indicating the satellite is operating normally.
The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) confirmed its receipt of the signals from the satellite, which leading DTH service provider DirecTV Group, Inc. will use to expand its high definition television (HDTV) programming across continental USA, Hawaii and Alaska. After about two months of in-orbit testing, the satellite will move to its operating position of 102.8 degrees West longitude to enhance DirecTV's HDTV services.
DirecTV-10 is one of three next-generation satellites Boeing is building for DirecTV. The satellites feature state-of-the-art antennas and payload subsystems, and a 48 meter solar array resulting in 18,000 watts of spacecraft power.
DirecTV-10 and its sister satellite, DirecTV-11, are both dedicated HDTV satellites. Both will be launched this year to provide DirecTV with national and local broadcast coverage in HDTV. They will be among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites ever launched.
DirecTV in 2004 entered into a contract with Boeing to build three Boeing 702 model satellites: DirecTV-10, DirecTV-11 and a ground spare. In addition to expanded national HDTV broadcasting, standard definition TV broadcasting and interactive TV, DirecTV-10 and DirecTV-11 will provide the capability for DirecTV to broadcast local HDTV to 90 percent of its customers.
DirecTV expects to offer 100 HDTV channels by yearend. DirecTV said profits rose 43 percent to $336 million this first quarter from $235 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 15 percent to $3.91 billion. It added 235,000 U.S. customers, including twice as many HDTV subscribers in the first quarter of 2006.
This was the third DirecTV satellite launched on a Proton vehicle. DirecTV-8 was launched on May 22, 2005, and DirecTV-5 was carried to orbit May 7, 2002. An International Launch Services Proton Breeze M vehicle launched DirecTV-10 from Baikonur.
"This is the eighth satellite we've delivered for DirecTV, which will provide unprecedented local and national high-definition television to DirecTV customers," said Howard Chambers, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "We've provided DirecTV satellites since 1993, and we look forward to completing the on-orbit maneuvers and tests of this newest spacecraft. Once on-orbit testing is complete, we'll hand over the satellite to DirecTV, and they can put it into service for the 16 million DirecTV customers who recognize the value of this space-based broadcasting system."
"We're proud of the excellent performance of our Enhanced Proton Breeze M and its demonstrated ability to lift such a massive payload as the DirecTV-10 satellite," said ILS President Frank McKenna. "At around six metric tons, this Boeing 702 model was the heaviest spacecraft launch for Proton."
"Not only are we proud of the vehicle's performance, we're also proud of our schedule performance. We met our commitment to launch the satellite in order to support DirecTV’'s goal of delivering up to 100 national HDTV channels by the end of the year."
This was the 41st mission for ILS, which is an American-based joint venture of Space Transport Inc. and Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, manufacturer of the Proton vehicle.
The Proton enhancements demonstrated with this launch culminate two years of research, development and testing by Khrunichev, one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry. While the primary purpose was to meet the requirements of ILS commercial customers and their larger satellites, the enhanced vehicle will ultimately be used for Russian federal missions as well.
Modern design tools allowed Khrunichev to fine-tune such things as fuel tanks, and redesign them to remove mass while maintaining safety margins. Lighter materials were used between the rocket's stages, and graphite epoxy sections replaced metal interstage adapters.
Additionally, the Breeze M reaction control system (RCS) has been improved. As part of this, the RCS fuel tanks were reduced in number from six to only two. "Reducing the number of parts and manufacturing one standardized version of the vehicle inherently improves reliability," McKenna said.
