Unlike the
AMC-14 launch that went awry just days ago, the DirecTV 11 launch went off sans a hitch. According to a new release on Sea Launch's website,
D11 was "successfully delivered into orbit" after lifting off right on schedule, and all systems were said to have "performed nominally throughout the flight." Currently, the crew is awaiting acquisition of the spacecraft's first signals from outer space, which should occur within the next few hours. So far, so good -- the countdown to more HD for more DTV subscribers starts now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stiltskin @ Mar 19th 2008 11:54PM
What happened to that live coverage did it happen?
Eli @ Mar 20th 2008 1:07AM
Yup, I watched it live (well for 1hr) both on DTV channel & streaming online.
FLskydiver @ Mar 20th 2008 4:26AM
replay at 6 a.m. channel 573
syphix @ Mar 20th 2008 7:11AM
Complete success so far...DirecTV 11 has "phoned home":
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q1/080320a_nr.html
locke6854 @ Mar 20th 2008 7:32AM
good for directv!
i'm a dishnet guy... but its not like we're gonna keep switching back and forth according to good/bad news. Besides, I think even if dish 14 went up, it'd add locals to different areas rather than add Sci-Fi or FX... and I already have HD locals.
med1320 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:40AM
Well, where the hell are my new HD channels for crying out loud dammit? The damn things in space now start broadcasting my damn channels you wankers!
Ben @ Mar 20th 2008 11:52AM
DirecTV 10 took 81 days before it made new HD channels available.
So look for 'em the first week of June.
JVirg1 @ Mar 20th 2008 1:12PM
Or per DirecTV I would not look for it til September.
http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=300485
DIRECTV 11, the tenth owned and operated satellite in the DIRECTV fleet, will be maneuvered into a circular orbit at 99.2 degrees West longitude and when tests are completed, it is expected to begin operations in early September, providing capacity for up to 50 additional national HD channels.