Media Advisory: ILS Proton to Launch Sirius FM-6

Payload:              

Sirius FM-6 communications satellite

SSL 1300 Platform

Separated spacecraft mass: 6,003 kg (13,234 lbs)

 

Launch Vehicle:                

Proton M/Breeze M

705,000 kg (1,554,000 lbs), including payload

58.2 m (191 ft)

 

Launch Date:      

October 21, 2013

 

Launch Time:     

00:12:56 Baikonur

14:12:56 EDT, October 20   

11:12:56 PDT, October 20

18:12:56 GMT, October 20

 

Launch Site:       

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Launch Pad 39

 

Launch Customer:           

Sirius XM Radio, New York, New York

 

Satellite Manufacturer:                

SSL, Palo Alto, California

 

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:  

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow

 

Launch Services Provider:            

International Launch Services, Reston, Va

 

Satellite Use:    

Sirius FM-6 is a high-power geostationary satellite for SiriusXM, America’s largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and one of the world’s largest pure-play audio entertainment companies. Sirius FM-6 will help with the delivery of commercial-free music, and premier sports, news, talk, entertainment and Latin programming, traffic and weather to more than 25 million subscribers. Sirius FM-6 will also help in the delivery of traffic and other data service information to markets across North America for vehicles with navigational systems. SiriusXM is installed in vehicles of every major automaker and available for sale at retail locations nationwide. Sirius FM-6 will ensure SiriusXM’s array of audio and data services are received by vehicles, mobile devices and home receivers and will play an important role in bolstering the continuity of service for years to come.

 

Satellite Statistics:          

__20 Kw end-of-life power

__R-4D, 4 SPT-100 plasma thrusters

__1 X-band uplink transponder

__1 S-band downlink transponder

__Planned orbital location: 116.15 degrees west longitude

__Anticipated service life: 15 years

 

Mission Profile:               

The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the Sirius FM-6 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the Sirius FM-6 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geostationary transfer orbit. Separation of the Sirius FM-6 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 11 minutes, and 20 seconds after liftoff.

 

Target Orbit at Separation:          

Perigee:  4,126 km

Apogee: 35,786 km

Inclination: 23.2 degrees

 

Spacecraft Separation:  

Approximately 9 hours, 11 minutes after liftoff

 

ILS Mission Statistics:    

_6th SiriusXM Satellite Launched on ILS Proton

_27th SSL Satellite Launched on ILS Proton

_6th ILS Proton Launch in 2013

_83rd ILS Proton Launch Overall

 

More Information:

Live webcast will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.  General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website. You can also follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook for mission updates.

                

Live Broadcast:

Live Coverage starting: 13:45 EDT / 17:45 GMT, 20 October

Launch is scheduled for 14:12:56 EDT / 18:12:56 GMT.

Launch Broadcast concludes no later than 14:45 EDT / 18:45 GMT.

 

Webcast can be seen at:  

http://siriusfm6.imgondemand.com

 

And via Satellite TODAY:

http://www.satellitetoday.com/

 

Test Signals:

HD test for US/ AMC-9 will begin at 13:15 EDT

Live test for Europe/ Baikonur will begin at 13:15 EDT/17:15 GMT

 

In Baikonur and Europe, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the Following (HD):

Eutelsat 10A:10 degrees east TXP B3

Channel: 12MHZ SLOT 3E12

Uplink Frequency: 14369 MHZ POL Y BY D-FRA-022  UP3 (ASI ONLY)  EU10A

Downlink Frequency: 11069 MHZ POL X

HD 1080i 50Hz DVBS2 8PSK 9.875Ms/s FEC 3/4,

P RoF 0.2 (MPEG4/H.264 420 21.503 Mbps)

AUDIO:1     SOUND MONO

AUDIO:2     SOUND MONO           

 

In the US, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the Following (HD):

Satellite Transponder

Channel Bandwidth U/L Freq / pol D/L Freq / pol

AMC-9, transponder 04C

Channel: C04BC @ 83W, 18.00 MHz

Uplink Frequency: 6,014.000 / H

Downlink Frequency: 3,789.000 / V

1080i QPSK

FEC:  3/4

Symbol rate:  13.333, DVB – S, MPEG2 HD 4:2:0