DIRECTV 10 Launch A Giant Leap for HD

Post by **Shane** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:10 am

The DIRECTV 10 satellite soared into space yesterday, beginning the first leg of its mission to dramatically expand HD programming for millions of DIRECTV customers nationwide and establish DIRECTV as the industry's HD pace-setter.

The Boeing-built 702 model satellite lifted off at 6:16 p.m. PDT, Friday, July 6, from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard an International Launch Services (ILS) Russian-built Proton Breeze M launch vehicle. After nine hours and eight minutes in flight, the rocket left the spacecraft in a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a high point of 22,300 miles (36,000 km) above the equator. Controllers at the ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa have made contact with the satellite and confirmed that all systems are functioning properly.

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2007/07/directv_10_laun.php]Read the Full Article[/url]

jhecondevsys · Post by **jhecondevsys** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:28 am

Is it true that the satellite, because of inherent malfunctions and lack of testing, periodically needs to be turned off and on, losing all data...but Boeing promises a software update any day/week/month/year now?

Post by **Shane** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:01 am

Please cite a source jh, I have not heard that.

- Shane

jhecondevsys · Post by **jhecondevsys** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 11:44 am

DirecTV customer service.

Post by **Shane** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:04 pm

Sorry, should have asked for a reliable source

jhecondevsys · Post by **jhecondevsys** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:07 pm

You're a great "straight-man", Shane.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 5:37 pm

That was funny!

JH, do you have a link you can point our readers to?

jhecondevsys · Post by **jhecondevsys** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:28 am

No links...as I am a born-again Luddite, undercover and sent to infiltrate HDTV on-line blogs.

regman · Post by **regman** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:35 am

This is very encouraging news, any idea when it will be tested, calibrated and activated? When does the second bird go up?

joed32 · Post by **joed32** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:29 am

September 16th is the date they gave the FCC. The 2nd one is waiting for Sea Launch to reschedule, maybe spring?