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SAT-MidEast 98.07.31
WELCOME TO SAT-MIDEAST !
A news release from Cairo, Egypt, located at 31.15 East - 30.3 North,
_____________________________________________________________________
WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE:
- Events and News interesting to the Middle Eastern SAT-viewer
- Satellite and Transponder Observations in C- and Ku-Band,
- Everything commented from the Middle Eastern perspective
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WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION:
- SAT-MidEast maintains a web site with relevant Middle Eastern
- satellite information, and a regular updated, satellite based,
- archive of observations, features & news for the Middle East.
- SAT-MidEast: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2878
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HOW TO CONTACT SAT-MIDEAST:
Send relevant infos, interesting news, and creative comments to :
- sat-mideast@geocities.com
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ATLAS 3A LAUNCHER
-----------------
Lockheed Martin Astronautics' Harlingen Operations marked a milestone
July 22 as it completed and prepared to deliver major elements of the
company's first new Atlas IIIA space launch vehicle. Lockheed Martin
Astronautics launches scientific and telecommunications satellites on
the Atlas rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, for
government and commercial customers worldwide.
The Atlas IIIA rocket comprises the booster stage with an RD-180 rocket
engine, a Centaur upper stage rocket connected to the booster by an
interstage adapter, and a payload fairing that protects the rocket's
satellite payload during launch and the flight to orbit. The Harlingen
Operations provides three major elements of the new rocket: the 14-foot
diameter, 40-foot tall payload fairing; the 10-foot diameter, 14.5-foot
tall interstage adapter; and the 10-foot diameter, 16-foot tall thrust
section that houses the RD-180 rocket engine and related propulsion
systems.
The payload fairing and interstage adapter will soon be shipped to Cape
Canaveral. The thrust section will be trucked to Astronautics' facility
near Denver, Colo., where the company completes final assembly of the
rockets before transporting them to Cape Canaveral for launch. First
launch of the Atlas IIIA is planned for early 1999.
"The people of our Harlingen Operations have shown superior performance
in completing these important elements of our first Atlas IIIA," said
Dr. Raymond S. Colladay, president, Lockheed Martin Astronautics. "I
congratulate them for their good work."
Compared to Lockheed Martin's Atlas IIAS model, most powerful
configuration of the current Atlas family, the new Atlas IIIA featuring
the RD-180 reduces the number of engines that power the rocket from nine
to two, reduces the number of parts by more than 15,000 and is simpler
and less costly to build and operate.
Astronautics is one of the operating units of Lockheed Martin's Space &
Strategic Missiles Sector headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.
Astronautics designs, develops, tests and manufactures a variety of
advanced technology systems for space and defense. Chief products
include planetary spacecraft and other space systems, space launch
systems and ground systems.
RD-180 USA TESTS
----------------
Lockheed Martin Astronautics made history this week by successfully
conducting the first test firing of a Russian rocket engine at a U.S.
government facility. An RD-180 engine with its prototype Atlas IIIA
rocket booster stage rumbled for 10 seconds at the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration's (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Alabama.
Astronautics will use the RD-180 engine to power its new Atlas III
rockets and the company's family of Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles
(EELV), being developed in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force. Two more
tests are planned over the next two months. The duration of each of the
subsequent tests will be 70 seconds.
The tests are being conducted in Marshall's massive Advanced Engine Test
Facility, which was used in years past to test Space Shuttle Main
Engines and the Saturn V rocket engines that boosted Apollo astronauts
to the Moon. The RD-180's thrust is 860,000 pounds, compared with 1.5
million pounds of thrust generated by the Saturn V rocket's first stage
engine, the F-1. A Space shuttle Main Engine produces 375,000 pounds of
thrust.
"This test was an important milestone in our development of the new
Atlas III and EELV rockets that will enable us to reduce assembly time
and improve operational capability while cutting costs," said Dr.
Raymond S. Colladay, president of Lockheed Martin Astronautics. "As a
result, we will enhance our ability to ensure mission success for our
international and domestic customers."
The tests at Marshall are designed to demonstrate the performance of the
engine and associated elements of the rocket including avionics,
propellant tanks and feedlines, electronics and hydraulics.
Lockheed Martin has established an international teaming relationship
with the RD AMROSS, LLC joint venture that was formed by the Russian
company NPO Energomash and Pratt & Whitney, an operating unit of United
Technologies Corporation, to co-produce the RD-180 engines under
exclusive contract for Lockheed Martin.
Compared to Lockheed Martin's Atlas IIAS model, the most powerful
configuration of the current Atlas family, the new Atlas IIIA featuring
the RD-180 reduces the number of engines that power the rocket from nine
to two, reduces the number of parts by more than 15,000 and is simpler
and less costly to build and operate. First launch of the Atlas IIIA is
planned for early 1999.
The Air Force envisions that the EELV will eventually replace the
existing Delta, Atlas and Titan space launch vehicles for use in
launching a wide range of government and commercial payloads. First
launch of the EELV is planned for 2001.
The RD-180 is currently undergoing additional testing at NPO Energomash
facilities in Khimky, Russia. Nine developmental engines already have
been successfully test fired for a total of more than 10,000 seconds.
During a typical Atlas IIIA mission, the engine would operate for 186
seconds.
(SME, source: Lockheed Martin Astronautics)
BOOSTER FLAWS
-------------
A series of unrelated technical bugs have kept America's stable of
rockets grounded on Earth in recent weeks as officials struggle to
launch four vehicles from two states.
Expected to be the next launch from planet Earth, an Orbital Sciences
Pegasus XL rocket is being readied to deliver eight ORBCOMM data and
messaging satellites into orbit. The air-launched rocket will begin its
flight from Wallops Flight Facility, Va.
However, officials have delayed the launch because of concerns with a
critical part in the booster's guidance system.
The vendor of LN 100 navigation units, which are used on Pegasus XL
vehicles, is considering a recall on the boxes.
Orbital was informed a few weeks ago of testing done by the vendor which
started the concern, officials said.
The sticking point now is determining if the unit currently installed on
the Pegasus is faulty. "We have had extensive testing on that unit on
that Pegasus rocket," said Orbital spokesman Barry Beneski. "We are
determining if this is a good unit or not."
If engineers conclude that the unit is acceptable and the rocket can fly
"as is", the launch is expected within a week. A decision is likely
within the next day or two, Beneski said.
But if the unit must be removed and replaced, another series of tests
between the rocket and unit would have to be performed, postponing the
launch further. The additional delay would be of "undetermined length,"
Beneski said.
The winged rocket remains inside its assembly shop at Vandenberg Air
Force Base, Calif. Orbital's L-1011 carrier jet is also on-station.
"Stargazer" is awaiting for the rocket to be rolled out, mated and
ferried across the country to Wallops for the final pre-launch drill,
Beneski said.
Meanwhile at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., Air Force, Boeing and
Lockheed Martin officials have been wrestling with problems that have
slipped the launches of Titan 4A, Atlas 2AS and Delta 3 rockets.
At Complex 41, the final Air Force Titan 4A vehicle is poised to fly
with a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The launch has
slipped from July 25 until around August 12 as workers attempt to
replace a torn thermal blanket on the rocket's liquid-fueled Centaur
upper stage. The blanket covers a portion of the Centaur's cone-shaped
bottom.
Air Force officials say the task has a high level of difficulty because
of limited access and the rocket standing vertical atop the launch pad.
A remote chance the Centaur will have to be removed from the Titan core
vehicle to complete the work is still a possibility, officials conceded.
Further south at Cape Canaveral's Complex 36 is the awaiting Lockheed
Martin Atlas 2AS, delayed from a July 29 target launch date to carry the
Japanese JCSAT 6 television satellite into orbit. JCSAT 6 manufacturer
Hughes ordered the delay about two weeks ago as a precaution while an
investigation continues into problems experienced by other satellites
similar to the Japanese-owned spacecraft.
The satellites are based upon Hughes' 601-series spacecraft design.
Three orbiting satellites in the past several months have suffered
failures of spacecraft control processors. The processor is crucial for
the satellite because it controls the attitude thrusters and pointing of
the power-generating solar panels.
The Atlas is tentatively set to launch on Aug. 8, but an official new
date has not been picked.
And at Complex 17, the inaugural flight of Boeing's Delta 3 rocket may
finally be back on track. The launch was pushed back from mid-July
because of concerns the booster's ordnance lines might not work during
flight. The explosive lines are necessary to ignite the nine strap-on
solid rocket motors, separate the motors and other stages during launch,
and would be used to destroy the vehicle if a failure occurs.
Over the weekend, workers attached the solid boosters to the first
stage, and on Monday, hoisted the second stage into place. Liftoff is
now on target for a window of 01:47-01:52 CET on August 24.
Delta 3 will carry the Galaxy 10 telecommunications satellite on the
259th flight of a Delta rocket.
(SME, source: FT)
HUGHES GETS 35
--------------
Where were you in 1963, as the world said goodbye to President John F.
Kennedy, listened to Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream"
speech, or learned of the formation of the Apollo space program?
The engineers at Hughes Space and Communications Company remember
exactly where they were, for on July 26, 1963, they quietly made history
with the successful launch of Syncom, the world's first geosynchronous
communications satellite.
As the world looked elsewhere, the dedicated technologists at Hughes
were laying the foundation for what is today a booming industry, and, in
the process, established themselves as the world leaders in this
evolving technology.
Virtually every man, woman, and child in the world has benefited from
the services provided by satellites. And it's likely that most of these
services were introduced on Hughes satellites. Whether it is through the
advance warning of storms using a weather satellite, the early scout of
the Moon's surface to prepare for U.S. astronaut landings, the
transmission of critical wartime strategic communications, the immediate
transfer of medical information, or simply the luxury of direct-to-home
satellite entertainment, Hughes spacecraft systems were there.
Recently, a Hughes satellite was used to deliver the messages of
democracy and human rights to more than 800 million Chinese during the
live television broadcast of the debate between President Clinton and
President Jiang Zemin. While this was an historic event, it is just one
example of the powerful reach of communications satellites worldwide.
In short, since 1963, Hughes has built a total of 168 commercial and
scientific spacecraft, which excludes classified spacecraft built to
support national security, an activity that also spans nearly three
decades and is one of which the company is quite proud.
Hughes' commercial and scientific satellites have completed more than 9
million hours of service, the equivalent of 1,000 years on-orbit, more
than any other satellite manufacturer in the world.
Hughes has built one in three of the approximately 180 communication
satellites in geosynchronous operation today.
With new orders for 11 satellites totaling $1.7 billion in the first
half of 1998, the creation of the world's largest satellite factory, and
a competent, uncompromising team of 7,500 employees, Hughes Space and
Communications Company is dedicated to the same goal it has had for 35
years: to provide the world's best space systems solutions through
integrity, excellence, and innovation.
Hughes Firsts
-------------
1963 - Syncom launched, becoming first communications satellite in
geosynchronous orbit
1965 - Early Bird becomes first commercial communications satellite
1966 - Surveyor 1 makes first fully controlled soft landing on moon
1967 - ATS-3 transmits the first color pictures of Earth taken from
synchronous altitude
1972 - Anik A, built for Canada, becomes first communications satellite
to serve an individual nation
1974 - Westar is launched as first U.S. domestic communications
satellite
1975 - Intelsat IVA is first satellite to reuse frequencies, thereby
doubling capacity
1976 - Marisat, first maritime communications satellite, links ships on
Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans to shore
1978 - Pioneer Venus heads for Venus to perform first extensive radar
mapping
1982 - SBS 3, an HS 376 design, becomes first commercial satellite to be
placed into orbit by the Space Shuttle
1992 - Optus B is first satellite with domestic mobile service
1994 - DBS-1 delivers first digital direct-to-home television
broadcasting to North America
1995 - First crosslink payload is carried on Milstar satellite
1995 - Galileo Probe becomes first spacecraft to penetrate Jupiter's
atmosphere
1996 - Measat 1 is first commercial communications satellite to use
gallium arsenide solar cells
1997 - PAS-5 is first commercial communications satellite to use
dual-junction gallium arsenide solar cells and a xenon ion propulsion
system, XIPs.
(SME, source: Hughes PR)
ARIANE 503 PAY-?-LOAD
---------------------
Arianespace has officially awarded Kayser-Threde with a contract for the
delivery of a dummy payload for the forthcoming Ariane 5 launch. The
so-called MAQSAT 3 will match the original satellite W2s mechanical
features and dynamical characteristics.
A condition for the contract with the Munich-based space company
Kayser-Threde called for the short delivery period of only three months.
On September 1st, the dummy-structure with a mass of 2,600 kg and a
length of more than 3 meter will be flown to Kourou, Europes spaceport.
Launch is scheduled for October 13, 1998.
Due to the unavailability of the originally planned tele-communications
satellite W2, Arianespace opted for the flight of a dummy payload. This
third and last test flight of the new carrier Ariane 5 primarily aims at
reaching GTO and at taking up commercial business with flight 504 as
soon as possible.
During the development of MAQSAT 3, nine mechanical parameters have had
to be adapted to the values of W2 within an extremely short time. In
parallel, manufacture of the first parts has had to be started, with all
activities running at maximum speed. After integration, a final modal
test is planned.
The medium-sized company Kayser-Threde set up a schedule for every
single day, with Sundays reserved for "trouble-shooting". After seven
weeks, the schedule is still intact.
Kayser-Threde has already contributed to Ariane 502: the company
delivered about 90% of the payload mass. During the launch in October
1997, the two instrumented platforms MAQSAT H and MAQSAT B investigated
the mechanic and acoustic environment for future satellites.
(SME, source: Kayser-Threde PR)
SME Comment: The whereabouts of the remainders of the fire-damaged
Eutelsat W1 satellite, which was eartier im discussion to be launched as
dummy satellite on the Ariane 503 flight, is unknown.
(SME)
EUTELSAT ORDERS RESSAT
----------------------
Eutelsat has signed a contract with Matra Marconi Space for a new
satellite called ResSat (REServe SATellite) in order to ensure service
continuity at all current Eutelsat orbital positions in event of a
satellite or launch failure.
The new satellite is scheduled to be be delivered in December 1999, and
will have standard characteristics that enable Eutelsat to operate
ResSat at 7, 10, 16 and 36 degrees East. Equipped with 28 transponders
and based on a similar platform as the Hot Bird crafts, it will operate
in the fixed-satellite services band (10.700-11.700 GHz) and will
provide a super-widebeam over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
and a steerable spot beam.
(SME, Eutelsat PR)
SME Comment: The decision to order this satellite was taken on
Eutelsat's shareholders' meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, from July 6
to 10. The Board of Signatories decided to authorize the Director
General to buy a new satellite as an on-ground spare. (see also
SAT-MidEast report 98.07.17)
The ResSat is not to be considered to be a replacement satellite for the
recent "sprinkled" Eutelsat W1, at its manufacters plant, Aerospatiale
Space, France.
(SME)
APSTAR 2R, 76.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/apstar2r.shtml
---------
An "Interactive Telecom Hongkong" trailer was temporary observed at
3,760 H, PAL/clear, 6,60/7,20 MHz.
(SATCO DX)
PANAMSAT 4, 68.5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/pas4.shtml
----------
TV-SN has left 3,743 H, MPEG-2/clear, and has been replaced by colour
bars.
(SATCO DX)
TURKSAT 1C, 42 East, http://www.satcodx.com/turk1c.shtml
----------
Bayrak International from Cyprus is back on 11,506 V, MPEG-2/clear, SR
4556, FEC 5/6, PIDs 33/34, SID 1.
The transmission times are: Thursday 22:00-23:00 CET, Saturday
23:30-01:30 CET and Sunday 22:00-23:00 CET.
(SATCO DX)
Bayrak International can also be seen on 11,093 V, PAL/clear, audio 6.60
MHz.
(SATCO DX)
ARABSAT 2A, 26 East, http://www.satcodx.com/arab2a.shtml
----------
ART Saif has replaced the ART World Cup Channel on 12,605 H, as part of
the 1stNET package.
(SATCO DX)
ASTRA 1G, 19.2 East, http://www.satcodx.com/astra1g.shtml
ASTRA 1G, 19.2 East, http://www.satcodx.com/dig/df1.shtml
--------
Wizja test card on 11,992 H, MPEG-2/Cryptoworks, SR 27500, FEC 3/4, PIDs
166/104.
(SATCO DX)
A lot of channels in the DF-1 packages have moved around, between Astra
1F and Astra 1G. I would recommend to initiate a search on the 11,720 /
11,758 / 11,798 and 12,032 GHz, H. At least the DF-1 info channel became
clear receivable. Please take a look at the DF-1 chart for details
(SME, SATCO DX)
EUTELSAT II-f1, 13 East, http://satcodx.com/e2f1.shtml
--------------
AB Sat has left 11,678 H, now only receivable on Hot Bird 4: 12,692 H.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 1, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb1.shtml
----------
Two additional channels appeared on transponder 5, 11,304 H,
MPEG-2/PowerVu:
SID/VPID/APID
50/1560/1520 Discovery Home & Leisure (encrypted)
60/1660/1620 Bloomberg TV Germany (clear)
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 2, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb2.shtml
----------
Two of the RAI test cards on 11,766 V, MPEG-2/clear, have ceased.
(SATCO DX)
ART Saif has replaced ART World Cup Channel on 12,015 H,
MPEG-2/Viaccess, as part of the Arabesque package.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 3, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb3.shtml
----------
SCT - Satisfaction Channel TV was temporary seen on 12,149 V, widebeam,
MPEG-2/clear (but with analog encryption !), PIDs 128/129, SID 7203.
(SATCO DX)
Eros TV has left 12,149 V, MPEG-2/clear, and was replaced by a test
card.
(SATCO DX)
CNN International as part of the Hellanian package on 12,169 H,
MPEG-2/IRDETO has teletext.
(SATCO DX)
Mreza Sat on 12,303 V, MPEG-2, has been in clear since a few days.
(SATCO DX)
New IDs in the D+ package on 12,418 V: please see the D+ chart for
details.
(SATCO DX)
HOT BIRD 4, 13 East, http://www.satcodx.com/hb4.shtml
----------
Eutelsat promo has started on 10,719 V, MPEG-2/clear, PIDs 5634/5635,
SID 7852.
Krisma on the same transponder has ceased.
(SATCO DX)
A digital test carrier could be found on transponder 111, 10.727 GHz, H.
(SME)
Test cards appeared on 12,654 H, MPEG-2/PowerVu, PIDs 1660/1620/6 and
1760/1720/7, 1960/1920/9.
A Yemen TV test dia appeared on PIDs 1860/1820/8. Some IRD's do not
automatically recognize thes new channels, it is recommended in that
case to store them by entering the PIDs.
Two radio channels in this Arabsat package got new APIDs:
1321: Al-Quran Al-Karim (KSA)
1322: General Arabic (KSA)
(SATCO DX)
The AB-Sat package on Eutelsat II-f1, transponder 34B, 11,678 H, is
moved to transponder 99, 12,692 H, widebeam, MPEG-2/Viaccess.
The package has ceased on Eutelsat II-f1. Please check the AB-Sat
digital chart for more details.
(SACTO DX)
EUTELSAT II-f2, 10 East, http://www.satcodx.com/e2f2.shtml
--------------
Wien 1 (Austria) has started on 11,014 V, MPEG-2/encrypted, SR 5632, FEC
3/4.
(SATCO DX)
MED TV displayed in a full screen overlay its message of ceasure as of
July 31th on transponder 25L, 10.972 V, and notifies the Kurdish viewers
the new reception parameters of Hot Bird 4, transponder 117, 10.853 H.
(SME)
SIRIUS 2, 5 East, http://www.satcodx.com/sirius.shtml
--------
TeleSport on 12,348 H, was temporary in MPEG-2/clear.
(SATCO DX)
A Merlin test card was temporary observed on 12,149 H, MPEG-2/clear, SR
7029, FEC 3/4, PIDs 308/256, SID 1.
(SATCO DX)
THOR 3, 0.8 West, http://www.satcodx.com/thor3.shtml
------
The D2-Mac transmission of TV1000 / History Channel on transponder 6,
11,823 H, is since August 1st good receivable in the Levant. Reception
int KSA and Gulf will hardly be possible.
Other reception reports regarding this new satellite are of course very
welcome at my or the SATCO DX mailbox.
(SME)
INTELSAT 707, 1 West, http://www.satcodx.com/i707.shtml
------------
Various channels could be observed on 11,015 V, Middle East Spotbeam,
MPEG-2/clear, PIDs 769/770.
Alternating have been observed this week: Israel's Channel 4 Movies,
Channel 3 Mini Series and CNN International.
This may all be tests in regards to the statements in the last
SAT-MidEast report, from 98.07.24.
The Channel 2 tests/feeds have moved to PIDs 513/514.
(SME, SATCO DX)
NILESAT 101, 7 West, http://www.satcodx.com/nile101.shtml
-----------
The educational channels 1-7 on 11,747 V, have temporary ceased, and
have been replaced by colour bars. They will probably return after the
summer school holidays. Very rarely transmissions can be observed
however.
(SME)
The university channels 1-3, have temporary left 11,823 V, and have been
replaced by test cards.
The Imhotep Health channel and Horus Vision Health channel have ceased.
Some new channels have started on 11,823 V, MPEG-2/clear, and following
IDs:
1002/1202/202 Nile Sports
1004/1204/204 Ajman TV
1005/1205/205 Iraq Satellite Channel
(SME, SATCO DX)
ART Saif has replaced ART World Cup Channel on 12,073 V, MPEG-2/IRDETO
as part of the 1st Net package.
(SATCO DX)
New PIDs for TV Land in the SHOWTIME bouquet on 11,996 H: 3028/3029.
(SATCO DX)
TELSTAR 5, 97 West, http://www.satcodx.com/t5.shtml
---------
Line-up on Kelly Broadcast DTH on transponder 23, 12,115 V,
MPEG-2/clear, SR 23000, FEC 2/3: TV Asia, Future TV, Lebanon, EDTV -
Emirates Dubai TV, JSC - Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, Syria and Nile
Drama Channel, Egypt.
Kelly Broadcast DTH on the net at: http://www.kbs-tv.com/
(SATCO DX)
SAT-MIDEAST INTERN, http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2878/
------------------
Due to the upcoming ceasure of the present home of the SAT-MidEast
Satellite Information pages at sat-net.com, a new location had to be
found.
SAT-MidEast site has started on an additional server:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2878
The geocities location could possibly be an intermediate solution, while
discussions for a final location at sat-mideast.com have not be
finalized.
All SAT-MidEast mail-subscriber have been notified in the past week that
the mailing list is also in progress of moving. Everyone has been
automatically re-subscribed to the new server, however a few addresses
refused to acknowledge the new mail-server, probably by so-called
spam-blockers.
In case you expect the weekly delivery of SAT-MidEast to your mailbox
and it does not show up, please mail me at: sat-mideast@geocities com,
so that I can take appropriate actions, to restore the service.
The SAT-MidEast pages at sat-net.com are still existing, but will NOT be
updated after July 31st! From August 1st, the only actual SAT-MidEast
version is presented on the new geocities.com location.
(SME)
ASK-ME INTERN, http://www.sat-net.com/listserver/ask-me/
-------------
The ASK-ME Q&A service will be terminated with an upcoming final mailing
next week, due to the expected closure of the mail server.
(SME)
Best regards,
Henk C. Room / Cairo - Egypt
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