The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL (No. 22) launch vehicle, carrying the XM-4 broadcast satellite, finally launched late on Monday, from their equatorial launch site.
The successful second attempt also marked Sea Launch and XM Radio entering into a deal to launch the next satellite in their constellation, XM-5.
**LIVE LAUNCH UPDATE PAGES** – **SEA LAUNCH ZENIT-3SL/XM-4 LAUNCH VIDEO and POST FLIGHT CONFERENCE** –
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On the first attempt – with the launch countdown proceeding to plan, the call that an Autocoupler on the ground support systems had failed to disconnect caused the scrub, just prior to the final launch readiness poll.
Monday’s launch went to plan, with no issues throughout the one hour flight, which included two burns of the DM Upper Stage and one 30 minute coast phase. The post flight insertion data showed the spacecraft had separated into its allocated orbital position with near perfect accuracy.
‘XM Radio, congratulations to you on the successful launch of the XM-4 satellite,’ said Sea Launch president Rob Peckham. ‘We take a lot of pride in launch all four of your satellites and we’re very proud to be part of your achievements over the years.
‘We’re looking forward to the opportunity to work with you again, should you continue to place your trust and confidence in our team and in our system.’
And Peckham didn’t have to wait long to hear the confirmation that XM Radio were indeed placing their trust in the next satellite system required by the satellite radio company, and its current subscriber levels of seven million listeners.
‘Hooray for Sea Launch,’ opened John Dealy, senior advisor for XM Radio. ‘Four times now you’ve lifted XM. You’ve lifted Rock, you’ve lifted Roll. You’ve lifted Rhythm and now you’ve lifted Blues.
‘Rob said he’d like to do business with us in the future…well we’ve just exercised the option for XM-5, so Sea Launch will be lifting XM-5 as well. Sea Launch, you get the job done.’
Launch previewThe Zenit 3SL is a hybrid concept developed by RSC Energia, originally designed to replace the Proton K/DM vehicle. The two stage Zenit features a modified Russian Block DM upper stage. The launch window extends for 58 minutes.
The XM-4 satellite was built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center. The Boeing 702 spacecraft carries a high-power S-band Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) payload provided by Alcatel Alenia Space.
Like the three XM satellites currently in orbit, XM-4 will broadcast XM’s radio programming to over 7 million subscribers in cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and Canada.
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, successfully completing previous missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.
Designed for a 15-year lifespan, the XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit.
Located 154 degrees West Longitude on the Equator, the Sea Launch Commander is now stationed at a safe distance from the Odyssey launch platform, and the Zenit-3SL rocket has been erected on the launch pad.
At launch, the rocket will lift the 5,193 kg (11,448 lbs.) XM-4 satellite to an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude.
**INFINITY: 10 minute STS-115 MUSIC VIDEO** –
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