Optus D3 & Additional HD services

[shadownz]

Anyone know when this bird is going to launch? (I get the impression its soon), and once up how long before Sky start moving/starting services on it?

Have got MySkyHDi with the dual-cable and quad LNB all ready to go

Other thing is what HD channels (and how many) do you think sky will add?
I personally hope they will share capacity with foxtel (e.g Discovery HD broadcast to both Foxtel and Sky in the same beam)

[kiwisteve]

Pre-launch preparations are underway with Optus D3 for Ariane 5's next mission

July 23, 2009
The Optus D3 telecommunications satellite is undergoing its pre-launch checkout at Europe’s Spaceport in preparation for an August liftoff on Arianespace’s fourth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2009.
http://www.arianespace.com/images/missionup-dates/2009/615_sm.jpg (http://www.arianespace.com/images/missionup-dates/2009/615_lg.jpg)

Following its delivery to French Guiana on Tuesday, Optus D3 was transferred to the S5C hall in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation facility (photo at right).
Optus D3 is the latest geostationary-orbit telecom satellite developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation for Optus Networks in Sydney, Australia. It will provide Ku-band communications for direct television broadcasting, Internet, telephony, and data transmission to Australia and New Zealand – expanding coverage at the same orbital slot as Orbital’s earlier Optus C1 satellite, located at 156 deg. East Longitude.
Based on Orbital’s STAR bus, Optus D3 carries a total of 32 transponders and is among the most powerful geostationary orbit telecom satellites ever built by this U.S. satellite manufacturer. Optus D3 is to generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power, with a mission design lifetime of 15 years. Its mass at liftoff will be approximately 2,500 kg.
Arianespace’s upcoming Ariane 5 flight will carry a pair of U.S.-built spacecraft to be operated by two Asia-Pacific operators. In addition to Orbital’s Optus D3 for Australia’s Optus, the mission will loft JCSAT-12 – which was produced by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.
JCSAT-12 also is being processed in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation center, having been delivered to the French Guiana launch site earlier this month.

[musikdj]

Specifications


Spacecraft
Launch Mass: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb.)
Solar Arrays: Four panels per array, UTJ Gallium Arsenide cells
Stabilization: 3-axis stabilized; zero momentum system
Propulsion: Liquid bi-propellant transfer orbit system; Monopropellant (hydrazine)
on-orbit system
Batteries: Two 5140 W-Hr capacity Li-Ion batteries (BOL)
Mission Life: 15 years
Orbit: 156 degrees East Longitude


Payload
Frequency: Ku-band
Repeater: 24 active transponders with 28-for-24 125 W TWTA's (primary
transponders) and 10-for-8 44 W TWTA's (backup transponders)
Payload Power: 5.0 kW
Antenna: Two 2.3 m deployable dual-shell gridded shaped reflectors
Launch
Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 (Soyuz backup)
Site: Kourou, French Guiana
Date: 3rd Quarter 2009

[shadownz]

Ok here is the n00b question for the day:
With them both at 156E, how far in space (in distance) will those 2 satelites be sitting apart? and any risk of them banging into each other?

I noticed on the mysky box yesterday, chan 999 now maps to the optus aurora test signal on optus c1 (I recommend having the sound down low if you goto it)

[kiwisteve]

That depends on the arrangements they have with that orbital slot .
It could even go to 156.1 E but it could be kms apart even if at 156E guess will have to wait and see

[krs]

Hope they get the right number of verticle and horizontal transponders this time. I bet they double checked!

[shadownz]

My only concern is if they are doing an orbital movement on the satellite is that the 2 birds bang into each other :p

[krs]

I would think they would be 10's if not in the hundreds of KM's apart.

[openmedia]

Take a look at http://www.lyngsat.com/europe.html

Especially 19.2°E and 28.2°E

4-5 birds in the same spot.

[kiwisteve]

I think NORAD keep a pretty close eye on whats going on

[singingbird]

http://www.lyngsat.com/launches/2009.html Optus D3 launches 20 th august 2009 via Ariane 5 - V190, 24 Ku tps co-located with Optus C1, i think they nornally take about a week to get the bird into the correct orbital postion. So hopefully end aug begin sep we should see a signal.

[paulw]

Hopefully it doesn't go bang on liftoff..

[shadownz]

I just saw a note on geekzone.co.nz saying Optus D3 is going up on Aug 20
so, new HD services on Sky maybe late september?

[Apsattv]

more like OCT/NOV/Dec for new services

[shadownz]

What Optus C1 freq's was D3 interfering with?

[Apsattv]

Any that fire up on NZ beam of D3 12250-12750 will knocks out signal spill from the H pol services of C1.

[kiwisteve]

I'm sure Optus wont be worried about that !! :D:D

But it will be interesting to try a 10.750 Prime Focus LNB in my 3m Solid
and see if any spill from the AUST beam

[allstarnz]

anyone found any New Zealand beams yet? I only have a 11300 LNB pointing at 156E at the moment. Reports on Austech seem to indicate that they're testing Australia beams already.

[kiwisteve]

The NZ beam of D3 is the 12.250 to 12750 band so your 11.300 Lnbf is fine

[shadownz]

Have not seen any official word from Sky TV about what HD services they are going to start off with on D3
Word is on geekzone they are going to start with ESPN, Nat-Geo and Discovery in HD but I'm picking they will have plenty of room for more?

[Rusty]

I'm sure Optus wont be worried about that !! :D:D

But it will be interesting to try a 10.750 Prime Focus LNB in my 3m Solid
and see if any spill from the AUST beam

Did you recieve anything?