[Sixto]

Synopsis updated 8/11/2009 - Orbit Location (TLE) update after Launch

Status of the DirecTV-12 (D12) Satellite:

• D12 Launch Info:
  • Construction by Boeing expected to be completed by October 8th, 2009
  • Launch expected between 10/15/2009-11/14/2009 (per Schedule-S)
  • Launch service provider will be International Launch Services (ILS)
  • Via a Proton-M/Briz-M rocket
  • From Baikonaur (same as D10)
  • Target location is 103° W.L. (102.765°)
• D12 CONUS:
  • 16 transponders (TP9-TP24) of national bandwidth for MPEG4 HD from 103°
  • Each transponder supporting 5 HD channels for a total capacity of 80 national HD channels
  • Within the Ka-Hi (19890-20200 MHz) frequency range
  • Spaceway-1 (SW1) is currently allocated the entire Ka-Hi (19700-20200) frequency range, therefore it's expected that SW1 and D12 will now share the range, with SW1 using the lower end, and D12 using the higher end
• D12 Local-in-Local (LiL):
  • 10 transponders (TP15-TP24) of spot beam bandwidth for MPEG4 HD LiL from 103°
  • Supporting 49 spot beams
  • Within the Ka-Lo (18600-18800 MHz) frequency range (same as D10)
  • The spot beam bandwidth is for in-orbit redundancy or replacement for the spot beam capability of either D10 or D11 (if D12 were moved to 99°)
• D12 RB-2A:
  • Named RB-2A for "BSS" payload on D12
  • 18 transponders (TP1-TP18) of spot beam bandwidth for "niche services" from 103°
  • Supporting 4 spot beams to the "western U.S."
  • Within the BSS (17345-17700 MHz) frequency range
  • "This payload will allow DirecTV to begin providing commercial service in the 17/24 GHz BSS band before any other satellite operator in the world, making use of these valuable spectrum/orbital resources mere months after receiving its first license in the band".

Progress of DirecTV-12:

• 02/28/2008: DirecTV Investor Meeting Presentation:
  "Will launch D12 because the growing importance of HD warrants its use to expand national capacity. Launch expected late 2009. Capacity for more than 200 HD national channels"
  
  Pages 17-18: http://investor.directv.com/common/...c&filename=001_Master_Handout_InvestorDay.pdf​
• 11/07/2008: DirecTV mention of "Proton" for D12 during an informal session. Also, "2009" mentioned.
• 01/07/2009: Chase Carey (DirecTV CEO) mentioned during a Citi Conference that D12 will be launched "middle" of 2009.
• 01/26/2009: "Late September: A Proton to launch the DirecTV 12 communications satellite from Baikonur."
  http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2009.html​
• 01/28/2009: Launch listed on Boeing website:
  http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/launch/launch_sched.html​
• 02/26/2009: 2008 DirecTV Annual Report:
  "With the launch of our DIRECTV 12 satellite later this year, we will gain another 50% increase in our national HD capacity to over 200 channels while offering local HD channels to more than 92% of households."
  
  "DIRECTV 12 is planned for launch in the second half of 2009. DIRECTV 12 will operate from our 101° WL orbital location after successful completion of in-orbit testing."
  
  Note: We've since found the 101° reference to be incorrect.​
• 8/7/2009, 8/11/2009: FCC Filings:
  D12 Application:

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=729763​

  D12 Exhibit-A:

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173017​

  D12 Exhibit-B (Request for Partial Waiver of Section 25.210(I) 30 DB Cross-Polarization Requirement):

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173015​

  D12 Exhibit-C (Application for Authorization to Launch and Operate DirecTV 12):

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173014​

  D12 Schedule-S (updated 8/11/2009):

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=730514​

  RB-2A Application:

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=729761​

  RB-2A Exhibit-A:

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173007​

  RB-2A Exhibit-B (Waiver Requests):

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173008​

  RB-2A Exhibit-C (Application for Authorization to Launch and Operate DirecTV RB-2A):

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173006​

  RB-2A Schedule-S:

  http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173013​

Boeing DirecTV-10/DirecTV-11/DirecTV-12 Fact Sheet:

www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/dtv10-11-12_factsheet.pdf​

Two Line Element (TLE) Format:

A NORAD two-line element (TLE) set consists of two 69-character lines of data which describe in detail a spacecraft's trajectory around the earth. Calculated and published by the U.S. government regularly.

http://celestrak.com/columns/v04n03/

http://www.space-track.org/tle_format.html​

Current D12 TLE & Orbital History:

Awaiting Launch in 2009

Tracking (Pictorial View):

Placeholder
​

Launch Photos:

Placeholder
​

The current DirecTV HD listing can be found here

Contributors to the information above: Sixto, LameLefty

 

[Sixto]

Placeholder for more information.

 

[Paul A]

Oh Boy, I can't wait!!!

Thanks Sixto for all that you do!!!!

 

[CJTE]

Wow. DirecTV 11 isnt even parked in its official location and we're getting info on D12.

Right On.

But having to wait to late 2009... Yikes!

 

[DodgerKing]

can we get a mod to make this a sticky and delete this particular post by me?

 

[OverThereTooMuch]

can we get a mod to make this a sticky and delete this particular post by me?

Isn't it a little early to sticky this? It's a year away.

 

[DodgerKing]

Isn't it a little early to sticky this? It's a year away.

He will still be doing updates and in the meantime it will get lost somewhere here in this forum...

 

[Doug Brott]

Isn't it a little early to sticky this? It's a year away.

Probably, but I'm sure you guys will find something to talk about

 

[LameLefty]

Probably, but I'm sure you guys will find something to talk about

Like, oh, say . . . we need to figure out who the launch contract is with. With Chase Carey telling investors that D12 will be launched second half 2009, they almost certainly have at least an option on a launch slot with one of the major providers - ILS via a Proton/Breeze from Baikonaur like D10; Sea-Launch via a Zenit SL3/Block DM from the equator like D11; Arianespace via Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana; or a ULA Atlas V from Florida. The first two are the more likely options given the success of both D10 and D11. However, ILS has had a couple failures of their Breeze upper stage since D10, and Sea-Launch had a failure prior to their later success of D11.

In any event, those who have a desire and aptitude for digging around the investor documents of the entities in question might be able to locate the "smoking rocket" so to speak.

 

[hdtvfan0001]

Probably, but I'm sure you guys will find something to talk about

We always do.....

Seriously though...I suspect D12 will be launched as a clone of D11 (it is already), with the same kind of mission to be a flagship sat and to replace an older one. Perhaps if they learn anything in the months ahead from D11 like they did for D10, they may modify it slightly, but otherwise, it should be a repeat performance.

 

[smiddy]

Are there any launch sites in South America? I would go with something like that if I knew of a place to launch from...

 

[cforrest]

Are there any launch sites in South America? I would go with something like that if I knew of a place to launch from...

http://www.arianespace.com

Located in French Guiana!

 

[Sixto]

Per LameLefty, have added the 5 launch site possibilities to post#1 and added a "contributors" tagline to acknowledge those who significantly contribute along the way.

 

[Christopher Gould]

they have used Arianespace also. its been awhile, but i know they have. once was even a dual satellite launch. are they out of the running for future launches? cost failures

 

[Tom Robertson]

The original contract for D10/D11/D12 lists several heavy lift satellite launchers that the satellites must be capable of launched thru:

[Boeing] will ensure that the Satellites will be technically compatible for Launch on each of
the following potential launch vehicles: Sea Launch (6100), Arianespace 5 ECA, Atlas 5
(521) and/or ProtonM/BreezeM Long Fairing Phase 1 (the "Candidate Launch Vehicles").
Contractor shall not take any action during the construction of the Satellites that would
preclude Launch by any of the Candidate Launch Vehicles.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Drew2k]

Sixto - Maybe you can add a new section to Post 1: "About D12". For example, is D12 a true clone of D11, right down to the experimental BSS payload? Or is it missing that payload? How does it differ from D10 and D11?

Regarding BSS and what is possible with a launch over a year away: Is there any possibility anything will change before the D12 launch with BSS technology, either with FCC authorizations or the payload itself?

(Great job on the info posted already, by the way!)

 

[Tom Robertson]

Drew2k,

Yes it is possible that the FCC might approve a BSS license in time for D12--but remember that package would have to be built in very soon to make a build/testing/launch cycle for a late 2009. I very much doubt D12 has much of anything in the way of a BSS package as that would be very high risk of expense at this time.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[LameLefty]

The original contract for D10/D11/D12 lists several heavy lift satellite launchers that the satellites must be capable of launched thru:

Cheers,
Tom

Excellent! Thanks, Tom! I guess my appraisal was pretty much right on.

 

[Sixto]

Sixto - Maybe you can add a new section to Post 1: "About D12". For example, is D12 a true clone of D11, right down to the experimental BSS payload? Or is it missing that payload? How does it differ from D10 and D11?

Regarding BSS and what is possible with a launch over a year away: Is there any possibility anything will change before the D12 launch with BSS technology, either with FCC authorizations or the payload itself?

(Great job on the info posted already, by the way!)

Thanks Drew.

Yep, gonna add a few new sections for D12 ... and have plenty of time between now and 2009!

 

[TheRatPatrol]

Any guesses to which orbital slot this will go in? How many satellites can each slot hold?

With D12, they can have up 200 national HD channels. But what happens if every channel goes HD, will they have the capacity for that, can they use the existing satellites at 101 for more HD expansion, or is there a D13 in the long term plans?

Thanks