* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Galaxy-16 satellite

Blobrana · L

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket sucessfully launched the Galaxy 16 communications satellite off the floating Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean at 07:50 GMT.
The satellite will be operated by PanAmSat to provide television and data broadcasting across North America.

Blobrana · L

T minus 1 hour

Blobrana · L

Blobrana · L

The launch is still on schedule for a 7:50 lift-off.

Blobrana · L

Blobrana · L

Due to an off-nominal indication during routine testing at the launch site, the Sea Launch team stopped the countdown, took corrective action, and then reset the schedule for liftoff on June 18.
The countdown now continues for the launch of the Galaxy 16 communications satellite on June 18, at the opening of a two-hour launch window, at 12:50 am Pacific Daylight Time (07:50 GMT).

The 4,640 kg (10,229 lb) Loral 1300-series spacecraft will be the newest member of PanAmSat’s North American Galaxy fleet. As the replacement for Galaxy 4R, Galaxy 16 will reside at 99 degrees West Longitude.

Blobrana · L

Blobrana · L

Sea Launch said in a news release that a Russian-made Zenit-3SL carrier rocket would put the Galaxy 16 communications satellite into orbit in a launch scheduled to happen at 7:50 a.m. GMT.

The satellite will replace the old Galaxy 4R satellite, which belonged to PanAmSat. It is intended for broadcasts in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. Galaxy 16 is the fourth spacecraft Sea Launch will orbit for PanAmSat.

From its equatorial launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude, a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle will lift the 4,640 kg Galaxy 16 spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location at 99 degrees West Longitude.

Lifting off from the Odyssey Launch Platform, a Zenit-3SL rocket will begin its ascent phase of flight. The first stage of the vehicle will separate two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, and the protective payload fairing will be jettisoned 75 seconds later. Following a six-minute burn, the second stage will separate from the Block DM upper stage. The Block DM will operate for seven minutes and then shutdown for a 30-minute coast period. The Block DM will burn a second time for four-and-a-half minutes. Following the second burn, and another 10-minute coast, the spacecraft will separate over the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa.
The Hartebeestok ground station at Pretoria, South Africa, is expected to acquire a signal from the spacecraft about 5 minutes after spacecraft separation.

Launch Timeline


Time 	Event
L= 0:00:00 	Liftoff
L+ 0:02:30 	Stage 1 Separation
L+ 0:03:45 	Payload Fairing Jettison
L+ 0:08:31 	Stage 2 Separation
L+ 0:08:41 	Block DM 1st Burn Ignition
L+ 0:45:34 	Block DM 2nd Burn Ignition
L+ 1:00:05 	Spacecraft Separation
L+ 1:05:00 	Spacecraft Acquisition (estimated time)

Blobrana · L

The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed Home Port in Long Beach, California, in preparation for Sea Launch's third mission of the year, the launch of PanAmSat's Galaxy 16 communications satellite.
The Sea Launch team is working toward liftoff at the opening of a two-hour launch window, at 12:50 am Pacific Daylight Time (07:50 GMT) on June 17.

The Sea Launch vessels are now en route to the launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude, in international waters of the Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii. Upon arrival, the launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown, ballasting the Launch Platform 65 feet, to launch depth, and performing final tests on the launch system and the spacecraft. A Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 4,640 kg Loral 1300-series spacecraft, to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) on its way to a final orbital position of 99 degrees West Longitude.

Built by Space Systems/Loral, Galaxy 16 carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, designed to meet the needs of a variety of broadcast customers in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. As the replacement for Galaxy 4R, Galaxy 16 will be the newest member of PanAmSat's North American Galaxy fleet, located at 99 degrees West Longitude. It is the fourth spacecraft Sea Launch will orbit for PanAmSat, and the sixth Loral-built spacecraft. While it is designed for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch's direct insertion into equatorial orbit is expected to yield additional years of fuel life.
Sea Launch will carry live coverage of the Galaxy 16 mission via satellite and also streaming video on the company website. Specifics about accessing this coverage will be announced when launch operations begin at the launch site.

Source Boeing