* Astronomy

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RE: XM4 satellite

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Blobrana · L

Blobrana · L

Blobrana · L

L minus 40 minutes
Preparations are underway at the launch site for liftoff of the XM-4 satellite at 23:49 GMT, (4:49pm PDT).

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The Sea Launch team has initiated a 72-hour countdown in preparation for the launch of the XM-4 broadcast satellite on October 26.

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Lift-off is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window at 4:49 pm Pacific Daylight Time (23:49 GMT).

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Credit Sealaunch

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The Sea Launch team is preparing for its fifth mission of 2006, the launch of the XM-4 satellite. The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed from Home Port in Long Beach, California, and are on their way to the launch site on the Equator to begin launch operations. Liftoff is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window beginning at 4:49pm Pacific Daylight Time (23:49 GMT) on October 26.
The Sea Launch vessels are sailing approximately 3,000 miles to the equatorial launch site in international waters of the Pacific Ocean at 154 degrees West Longitude. 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 5,193 kg XM-4 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude.

The XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit. Specified for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is designed to yield additional years of service life. This is Sea Launch’s fourth launch for XM Satellite Radio, completing previous XM missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.

Source Sealaunch

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XM-4 is the 4th Boeing 702 spacecraft manufactured at the Boeing Satellite Development Centre in El Segundo, California. - and orbited by Sea Launch - for XM Satellite Radio. The high-power S-band satellites have Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) payloads built by Alcatel Alenia Space, in France, to broadcast state-of-the-art digital radio programming directly to cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and Canada. Designed for a 15-year lifespan, the XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit. Boeing is the world's leading manufacturer of geostationary satellites. Sea Launch's previous XM missions were successfully completed in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.

From its equatorial launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude, a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle will lift the 5255 kg. XM-4 commercial DARS satellite to an optimised geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude, in support of XM’s on-going service requirements.
Two-and-a-half minutes after lift-off, the first stage will separate and then the payload fairing will jettison. About five minutes later, the second stage will separate from the Block DM upper stage. After the first burn of the Block DM engine, the spacecraft will coast for about 30 minutes. Following this coast, the Block DM will make a second burn and then separate from the spacecraft about six minutes later, above the East coast of Africa.

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The Odyssey platform is currently docked in San Diego harbour.