DIRECTV Satellite Discussion D-15 @103W

New TLE

Name DIRECTV 15
NORAD # 40663
COSPAR designator 2015-026-A
Epoch (UTC) 2015-06-04 14:09:40
Orbit # at Epoch 13
Inclination 0.120
RA of A. Node 267.380
Eccentricity 0.0015059
Argument of Perigee 225.038
Revs per day 1.00408658
Period 23h 54m 08s (1434.13 min)
Semi-major axis 42 126 km
Perigee x Apogee 35 685 x 35 812 km
BStar (drag term) 0.000000000 1/ER
Mean anomaly 261.949
Propagation model SDP4
Element number / age 999 / 0 day(s)
StdMag (MaxMag) / RCS N/A
Diameters N/A
Satellite group Geostationary



1DIRECTV 15
Lon 70.3635° W
Lat 0.1216° S
Alt (km) 35 731.800
Azm 141.2°
Elv 44.5°
RA 14h 03m 30s
Decl -5° 20' 47"
Range (km) 37 392.250
RRt (km/s) 0.005
Vel (km/s) 3.077
Direction Ascending
Eclipse No
MA (phase) 75.0° (53)
TA 75.2°
Orbit # 14
Mag (illum) ? (83%)
Constellation Vir

 

It's still looking like a June 12 arrival at 66.8 W for IOT at the earliest. I'm betting they won't drop it into a lower orbit to speed it up.

 

Another adjustment. Closer and closer.

Name DIRECTV 15
NORAD # 40663
COSPAR designator 2015-026-A
Epoch (UTC) 2015-06-05 11:54:10
Orbit # at Epoch 14
Inclination 0.114
RA of A. Node 268.083
Eccentricity 0.0015306
Argument of Perigee 224.674
Revs per day 1.00407206
Period 23h 54m 09s (1434.15 min)
Semi-major axis 42 127 km
Perigee x Apogee 35 684 x 35 813 km
BStar (drag term) 0.000000000 1/ER
Mean anomaly 229.063
Propagation model SDP4
Element number / age 999 / 0 day(s)
StdMag (MaxMag) / RCS N/A
Diameters N/A
Satellite group Geostationary


1DIRECTV 15
Lon 70.3171° W
Lat 0.0110° N
Alt (km) 35 698.580
Azm 141.0°
Elv 44.6°
RA 06h 24m 39s
Decl -5° 12' 08"
Range (km) 37 352.301
RRt (km/s) -0.002
Vel (km/s) 3.080
Direction Descending
Eclipse No
MA (phase) 320.2° (227)
TA 320.1°
Orbit # 14
Mag (illum) ? (6%)
Constellation Mon

 

For those like me that can't interpret the data and need visual reference....

 

Latest TLE essentially the same
Slowly moving toward 66.8 in near GSO orbit.
Simulation has it on slot 6/12 to 6/13

Doctor j

 

Glacially may be a better term than slowly.

 

I thought Nick was the Grammar Police. :sure:

 

Do glacers move at approximately 3.07 km/s (1.91 mi/s)?

 

A new TLE is out. Orbitron is still estimating an arrival on Friday, June 12.

1 40663U 15026A 15159.47807620 -.00000285 00000-0 00000+0 0 9993
2 40663 000.1066 262.7379 0011436 235.6692 221.1156 01.00410949 161

Name DIRECTV 15
NORAD # 40663
COSPAR designator 2015-026-A
Epoch (UTC) 2015-06-08 11:28:25
Orbit # at Epoch 16
Inclination 0.107
RA of A. Node 262.738
Eccentricity 0.0011436
Argument of Perigee 235.669
Revs per day 1.00410949
Period 23h 54m 06s (1434.10 min)
Semi-major axis 42 126 km
Perigee x Apogee 35 699 x 35 796 km
BStar (drag term) 0.000000000 1/ER
Mean anomaly 221.116
Propagation model SDP4
Element number / age 999 / 0 day(s)
StdMag (MaxMag) / RCS N/A
Diameters N/A
Satellite group N/A

 

For more continuous tracking (still based on released TLEs of course). There is n2yo.com.

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=40663

Sent from my SGH-M819N using Tapatalk

 

Another update, slow but steady progress.

Name DIRECTV 15
NORAD # 40663
COSPAR designator 2015-026-A
Epoch (UTC) 2015-06-08 22:06:45
Orbit # at Epoch 17
Inclination 0.106
RA of A. Node 262.725
Eccentricity 0.0011200
Argument of Perigee 237.362
Revs per day 1.00405123
Period 23h 54m 11s (1434.18 min)
Semi-major axis 42 127 km
Perigee x Apogee 35 702 x 35 796 km
BStar (drag term) 0.000000000 1/ER
Mean anomaly 19.663
Propagation model SDP4
Element number / age 999 / 0 day(s)
StdMag (MaxMag) / RCS N/A
Diameters N/A
Satellite group Geostationary


1DIRECTV 15
Lon 68.7324° W
Lat 0.1055° N
Alt (km) 35 772.250
Azm 138.8°
Elv 43.7°
RA 01h 33m 53s
Decl -5° 04' 36"
Range (km) 37 488.104
RRt (km/s) -0.003
Vel (km/s) 3.074
Direction Descending
Eclipse No
MA (phase) 240.0° (170)
TA 239.9°
Orbit # 17
Mag (illum) ? (25%)
Constellation Cet

 

Whats the big intrigue with this? Who cares where its at, I just want some frigging locals.

 

A question for you guys, do you know if the solar panels are deployed or not?

 

Well you won't likely ever get them from this satellite. Unless for some reason DIRECTV wants to put them on CONUS transponders.

As D15 has no spotbeam payloads for local channels.

Sent from my SGH-M819N using Tapatalk

 

Most certainly yes, and for a long time ....

As there would be no other way to power the satellite's electrical system. The batteries would be long flat by now, having been heavily consumed by the launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) without recharging from the deployed solar panals relatively soon after.
.

Sent from my SGH-M819N using Tapatalk

 

With DIRECTV 14, the panels were deployed before the satellite fired its main thrusters for the first time.

 

Where are you located? Are you in a market that Directv covers but too far to receive the locals they currently provide, or in a market that Directv doesn't cover at all?

D14 added a lot of spotbeam capability but it is still in the process of getting all that enabled. Once they have it fully operational I think it is likely they'll use the Spaceway satellites to both cover markets that currently aren't covered and maybe introduce some wider beams to help expand coverage in some of those very large DMAs out west. So like HoTat2 said, D15 doesn't matter for your locals, but there's still a lot going on with D14 that may help this summer.

 

Typically, solar panels are deployed immediately after separation from the booster and/or mating ring.

 

Another TLE. Very small changes.

Name DIRECTV 15
NORAD # 40663
COSPAR designator 2015-026-A
Epoch (UTC) 2015-06-10 12:06:03
Orbit # at Epoch 19
Inclination 0.109
RA of A. Node 263.749
Eccentricity 0.0011294
Argument of Perigee 237.231
Revs per day 1.00405679
Period 23h 54m 10s (1434.17 min)
Semi-major axis 42 127 km
Perigee x Apogee 35 702 x 35 797 km
BStar (drag term) 0.000000000 1/ER
Mean anomaly 230.918
Propagation model SDP4
Element number / age 999 / 0 day(s)
StdMag (MaxMag) / RCS N/A
Diameters N/A
Satellite group Geostationary



1DIRECTV 15
Lon 68.1446° W
Lat 0.0072° N
Alt (km) 35 718.890
Azm 138.2°
Elv 43.2°
RA 06h 12m 28s
Decl -5° 11' 25"
Range (km) 37 468.205
RRt (km/s) -0.002
Vel (km/s) 3.078
Direction Descending
Eclipse No
MA (phase) 308.7° (219)
TA 308.6°
Orbit # 19
Mag (illum) ? (5%)
Constellation Mon

 

Adjusting to equatorial orbit...