LIVE: Sea Launch: DIRECTV-11 launch - March 19

[Satori]

Creating a thread for the next Sea launch mission in March 2008 to launch the DirecTV-11 communications satellite.

The satellite was delivered to the Payload Processing Facility a few weeks ago in January and the Payload Unit with the satellite was transfered to the Sea Launch Commander where it will be mated with the 11K77 Zenit-3SL launch vehicle.

[moonman]

Payload fact sheet (PDF)..........
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/dtv10-11-12_factsheet.pdf

[moonman]

Next step: Departure of the Odyssey Launch Platform
See "mission highlights" for pics. so far........
http://www.sea-launch.com/current_launch.htm

DIRECTV-11 Flight Profile

Zenit 3SL final test before departures to the launch site
http://www.sea-launch.com/mission_directv-11/final_test_launch/final_test_launch.html

[anik]

I was told the launch is postponed. The launch date was March 9. Now it is TBD.

[Rocatman]

Have you heard a reason for the postponement?

[anik]

Rocatman - 27/2/2008  7:53 PM

Have you heard a reason for the postponement?

Problem with DirecTV 11 satellite.

[McDew]

anik - 28/2/2008  2:57 AM

Rocatman - 27/2/2008  7:53 PM

Have you heard a reason for the postponement?

Problem with DirecTV 11 satellite.

Not sure, I heard the launch vehicle had an electrical problem during checkout and they are waiting to fix before leaving port.

[anik]

McDew - 28/2/2008  2:32 PM

Not sure, I heard the launch vehicle had an electrical problem during checkout and they are waiting to fix before leaving port

Yes, it is electrical problem. I was told it is related to satellite. But I think you have better info. Thanks for important correction!

[moonman]

Anything new as to what the trouble is?? I can confirm that both the Commander and the
Odyssey remained in port today ( Sat. March 1). It is obvious that given the sailing time, that
they will not be making the March 9th launch date.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1480161&postcount=686

[William Graham]

moonman - 2/3/2008  3:10 AM

they will not be making the March 9th launch date.

We were already aware that it had been delayed. Current date is TBD.

[anik]

The electrical problem has been successfully resolved. The Odyssey platform has departed Long Beach yesterday. The launch is scheduled approximately on March 17th.

[anik]

Sea Launch Webcam Page - http://www.navigon.net/sl/pictures/

[Jirka Dlouhy]

The SL wessels started go to place of launch in Pacific from Long Beach.

[JohnWT]

SFN are giving a launch date of March 17th.

[moonman]

Offical SeaLaunch announcement-Press release, on launch date:
http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/news_releases/nr_080305.html

[Mister D]

DIRECTV has carried the live telecast of many of its previous launches on a spare channel. Has anyone heard if they will be doing this again for DTV-11?

[satlaunch]

Departure of the Sea Launch Commander: http://www.sea-launch.com/mission_directv-11/acs_depart/acs_depart.html

[moonman]

Launch platform on station:
Long Beach, Calif., March 14, 2008 – The Sea Launch team has arrived at the launch site on the equator and will initiate a 72-hour countdown today, in preparation for the launch of the DIRECTV 11 broadcast satellite on Monday, March 17. Liftoff is planned at 3:49 pm PDT (22:39 GMT), at the opening of a 58-minute launch window. All systems are proceeding on schedule.

With operations at the launch site now underway, the marine crew has ballasted the Odyssey Launch Platform to its launch depth for stability. The Sea Launch Commander will be stationed near the Odyssey throughout the weekend, occasionally connected by a link bridge that enables foot traffic between the two vessels.

On the day before launch, the rocket will be rolled out of its environmentally-protected hangar on the platform and automatically erected on the launch pad. Before fueling begins, all personnel will evacuate the platform and transfer to the ship, which will be stationed about four miles uprange, throughout launch operations. At launch, the Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 5,923 kg (13,058 lb) DIRECTV 11 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location of 99.2 degrees West Longitude.
http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/nr_080314.html