Atlas launches communications satellite
Posted: Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 6:19 PM ET (2319 GMT)
An Atlas 5 booster successfully launched a commercial communications satellite Friday morning. The Atlas 5 521 lifted off from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 7:07 am EST (1207 GMT) and placed its payload, the AMC-16 satellite, into a geosynchronous transfer orbit one hour and 49 minutes later. The launch took place near the end of a two-hour, 40-minute launch window that opened at 4:41 am EST (0941 GMT); behind-schedule launch preparations, a valve glitch, and a flight profile update to account for changing winds accounted for the delay. The AMC-15 satellite launched Friday is a Lockheed Martin A2100AX model with 24 Ku-band transponders and 12 Ka-band spot beams. The satellite, which will be located at 85 degrees west, will be used by satellite operator SES Americom to provide direct-to-home TV service for EchoStar. The launch was the 74th consecutive successful launch for the Atlas family of vehicles, tying a record set by the Ariane 4.
An Atlas 5 booster successfully launched a commercial communications satellite Friday morning. The Atlas 5 521 lifted off from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 7:07 am EST (1207 GMT) and placed its payload, the AMC-16 satellite, into a geosynchronous transfer orbit one hour and 49 minutes later. The launch took place near the end of a two-hour, 40-minute launch window that opened at 4:41 am EST (0941 GMT); behind-schedule launch preparations, a valve glitch, and a flight profile update to account for changing winds accounted for the delay. The AMC-15 satellite launched Friday is a Lockheed Martin A2100AX model with 24 Ku-band transponders and 12 Ka-band spot beams. The satellite, which will be located at 85 degrees west, will be used by satellite operator SES Americom to provide direct-to-home TV service for EchoStar. The launch was the 74th consecutive successful launch for the Atlas family of vehicles, tying a record set by the Ariane 4.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 12
Philip Plait on the Wonders of the Universe
The Browser — 7:00 pm ET (0000 GMT) Young girl's curiosity of science leads to becoming first African-American woman in space
US Air Force — 6:58 pm ET (2358 GMT) Cleveland-built testing equipment ready for space
AP — 6:57 pm ET (2357 GMT) Out of this world! Video shows spectacular view of moon and Northern Lights from space
The Daily Mail — 6:56 pm ET (2356 GMT) Final ‘go’ for Vega launch
ESA — 10:27 am ET (1527 GMT) |