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A Cup of Positive Juice
March 17, 2008
My wife must have slipped me a cup of “Positive Juice” today. Yesterday I was actually feeling sad, as it appeared that Dish Networks satellite launch on Friday was a failure. But today I am happy, and I am actually excited by what the future holds for the failed Dish Network satellite…
You see the satellite didn’t fail, the stage 2 engine pushing the satellite into space did. The good news that I am hearing that the satellite itself is healthy. And this seems to be confirmed by SES-Americom President Edward Horowitz who today claimed that he is “confident” that engineers will be able to get the AMC-14 satellite into its proper orbit.
If anyone can get that satellite into proper orbit it is the crew at Lockheed Martin. They have the ability to take this “rocket science” and make it look easy.
I expect that because they are going to use the satellites thrusters it will take a few months to get to its final home at the 61.5 orbital location.
So what’s this slight setback mean for Dish Network? From where I sit (in my opinion) this setback does not really harm Dish Network at all. Dish Network currently has two satellites at 61.5 currently Echostar 3 and Echostar 12 (This satellite was formerly known as Rainbow 1.)
Echostar 3 is nearing its end of life, however still has some time left on it before it is decommissioned. The proof that this satellite still has life is the fact that Dish Network filed with the FCC to keep Echostar 3 where it was as an “in orbit spare.” The Echostar 12 satellite was acquired from Rainbow Media when the VOOM DBS service went dark. This satellite has the ability to offer both conus and spot beam transponders. Dish was planning on taking advantage of the satellites spot beam capabilities to offer local HD channels to a number of cities around the country. If I was Charlie I would put these local launches on the back burner and instead use the space to offer national HD channels. The national HD channels will earn Echostar more money then the LIL HD offerings ever will. When AMC-14 finally makes it to 61.5 then they can shuffle things to the new satellite and begin using the spot beams on Echostar 12 to offer customers their locals in HD.
At the end of the month Dish Network will be gaining 2 transponders on the Echostar 3 satellite, as Sky Angel will be discontinuing their DBS service in favor of a new IPTV platform. These two new transponders will help Dish greatly in this time of need.
The new AMC-14 will take awhile to get to its home, without any issues it was scheduled to go in operation the first week of May. However with it appearing that the satellite will be moved into its orbit using its own smaller station keeping thrusters it will be a few months before AMC-14 reaches it’s new home.
Over the weekend I have read numerous news reports on how big a setback this is for Dish Network, but I frankly don’t see it that way. While some things may need to be delayed a bit, Dish Network can move ahead with its plans to bring its customers more HD.
I am going to go out on the limb and say the future looks positive for Dish Network. How can I say this you ask? Easy, I started my day with a nice cup of “Positive Juice!”
DIRECTV LAUNCH PUT ON HOLD
In what may or may not be related to the Dish Network satellite snafu, late yesterday afternoon the countdown for the launch of DirecTV’s new DirecTV 11 satellite was put on hold.
According to the Sea Launch website the mission was put on hold so that the crew could study an issue. The satellite was scheduled to launch later today from the Sea Launch platform, which is located at the equator.
The DirecTV 11 satellite is a new KA Band satellite, which is the largest, and most powerful KA band satellite ever built. This new satellite when launched will live at the 99 degree west longitude orbital location. This satellite will help DirecTV offer both more national HD channels plus addition HD local into local cities.
As I am writing this I am watching the webcam from the Sea Launch platform and they just rolled the rocket out from storage. It appears that whatever the issue was it was minor. There is no word yet when the countdown will be restarted or when DirecTV 11 will launch.
Go DirecTV 11!
Posted by Scott Greczkowski on March 17, 2008 | Comments (6)
