Payload:
DIRECTV 12 communications satellite
Platform:
702
Separated Spacecraft Mass:
Approx. 5,900 kg
Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg (1,554,000 lbs), including payload
58.2 m (191 ft)
Launch Date:
December 29, 2009
Launch Time:
06:22 Baikonur
00:22 GMT
19:22 EST, 28 Dec.
16:22 PST, 28 Dec.
Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39
Launch Customer:
DIRECTV, El Segundo, California
Satellite Manufacturer:
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems, El Segundo, California
Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow
Launch Services Provider:
International Launch Services, Reston, Va.
Satellite Use:
The DIRECTV 12 next-generation satellite will play an important role in extending DIRECTV’s content leadership position in the pay TV industry. When it becomes operational in the first half of next year, it will expand DIRECTV’s HD capacity by 50 percent to more than 200 national channels. The powerful 131-transponder payload integrates 32 active and 12 spare TWTAs (Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers) at Ka-band for national service and 55 active and 15 spare TWTAs for spot beams. The payload is powered by a gallium arsenide solar array that spans more than 48 meters. DIRECTV 12 will receive and transmit programming throughout the United States with two large Ka-band reflectors, each measuring 2.8 meters in diameter and nine other Ka-band reflectors.
Satellite Statistics:
— 70 Ka-Band transponders
__Orbital location: 102.8 West longitudes
__Anticipated service life: 15 years
Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the DIRECTV 12 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the Ascent Unit (payload fairing, Breeze M upper stage and the DIRECTV12 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the Orbital Unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geo-transfer orbit. Separation of the DIRECTV 12 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 10 minutes after liftoff.
Target Orbit at Separation:
Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)
Perigee: 5,120 km (3,181 miles)
Inclination: 20.7 degrees
Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 10 minutes after liftoff
ILS Mission Statistics:
__7th ILS Proton Launch of 2009
__56th Proton Launch for ILS
__4th DIRECTV Satellite Launched with ILS Proton
__13th Boeing Satellite Launched on a Proton
Live Broadcast:
US Domestic C-Band satellite time from CCI will start at 6:00 p.m. EST, 28 December for test signals
All other test signals will start at 6:30 p.m. EST, 28 December 2009
Live Coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. EST, 28 December 2009
Launch is scheduled for 7:22 p.m. EST, 28 December 2009
Launch Broadcast concludes no later than 8:00 a.m. EST (Firm Out)
BROADCAST WILL BE SEEN IN NORTH AMERICA ON:
Satellite: Galaxy 16
Transponder: 10C
Orbital Position: 99 W
Band: C Analog NTSC
Bandwidth: 36 MHz
Uplink Frequency: 6124.0 MHz Horizontal
Downlink Frequency: 3900.0 MHz Vertical
BROADCAST WILL BE SEEN IN EUROPE ON:
Satellite: Atlantic Bird 1 – F5
Digital Channel: CH-B 8.555 MHz
Orbital Position: 12.5 degrees West
Band: KU Digital PAL
Bandwidth: 8.555 MHz
UPLINK Frequency: 14133.75 MHz Vertical
Downlink Frequency: 12633.75 MHz Horizontal
Sym Rate: 5.632
FEC: 3/4
BROADCAST WILL BE SEEN AT THE LAUNCH SITE ON:
Israel BEZ Teleport to turn Atlantic Bird 1 to SESAT 1
Satellite: SESAT 1
Digital Channel: G
Band: Ku
Orbital Position: 36 Degrees East
Satellite Channel: EUTELSAT SESAT 1 B3 “G”
Bandwidth: 9 MHz
Uplink Frequency: 14397.5 MHz Vertical
Downlink Frequency: 11097.5 MHz Horizontal
Sym Rate: 5.632
FEC: ¾
More Information:
Live webcast at www.ilslaunch.com will begin approximately 20 minutes before liftoff. General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website or on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.