Sea Launch has successfully launched the EchoStar XI broadcast satellite from its ocean-based platform, marking its fourth successful mission of 2008 and its third mission for DISH Network. The satellite is based on Space Systems/Loral (SS/L)’s 1300 spacecraft bus. It is designed for an orbital service life of 15 years, with 20kW of power to support the expansion of DISH Network’s capacity and capabilities to customers throughout the United States.
http://www.sea-launch.com/http://www.ssloral.com
- In March 2008, SES AMERICOM confirmed that its AMC-14 satellite failed to reach its intended orbit following its launch on board a Russian Proton Breeze-M launch vehicle on March 15. An anomaly during the second burn of the fourth stage of the rocket resulted in the satellite being placed short of the planned geostationary transfer orbit. The spacecraft is entirely contracted by EchoStar.