Systems aboard the Centaur stage are reported healthy as the quiet coast period continues. Now six minutes away from the Centaur's second burn and less than 10 minutes from spacecraft separation. The vehicle continues its coast period as it appraches the equator. The Atlas/Centaur rocket has performed perfectly so far. Lockheed Martin reports activities still going right according to plan. Small thrusters on the stage are firing to settle the propellant inside the vehicle's tanks to prepare for engine ignition. The two RL-10 engines have reignited for a 97-second firing to accelerate EchoStar 6 into its required orbit around Earth. Coming up on deployment of EchoStar 6 at T+plus 28 minutes, 55 seconds. Good engine shutdown signatures were seen in data from the rocket. Centaur has completed its second firing, which appears to have been successful. The Centaur is beginning its reorientation maneuver to prepare for releasing the payload. Spinup of the Centaur upper stage has started in advance of EchoStar 6 deployment in less than a minute. In about three hours, solar array deployment is expected. Ground controllers expect to establish contact with EchoStar 6 in about 15 minutes, which will confirm the craft's health following launch. This marks the 52nd successful launch by an Atlas rocket dating back to 1993. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The EchoStar 6 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite has been released into space following a smooth launch today by the Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket. The rocket delivered EchoStar 6 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit around Earth with an apogee of 38,193.835 km, significantly higher than minimum required of 32,604.033 km, and perigee of 166.676 km, slightly better than the required 166.374 km. The extra boost will save EchoStar's onboard fuel supply, extending the craft's life by at least a year. Lockheed Martin has announced data on the orbit achieved during the launch, and the Atlas rocket performed better than expected. Read our complete launch story.Īlso check out a QuickTime movie of the launch. Lockheed Martin's commercial Atlas rocket fleet kept its long-running success streak unblemished this morning by lofting into space the most powerful direct broadcasting satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission. J- Read about the countdown and launch of the EchoStar 6 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket. Spaceflight Now | Atlas Launch Report | Mission Status Center
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