SPACEWAY-3

SPACEWAY-3 is a communications satellite which, as of August 2007, is undergoing on-orbit testing after its successful launch. The third satellite in the SPACEWAY series, it includes a K_a-band communications payload. [cite web | url = http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/kit/SPACEWAY3_BSAT3a_GB.pdf | title = Launch Kit | date = March 14, 2007 | publisher = Arianespace] After testing it will be used by Hughes Network Systems to provide broadband Internet Protocol network service.

Launch

SPACEWAY-3 was launched August 14 . [cite web | url = http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/releases/presrel07_08_14.html | title = Arianespace boosts SPACEWAY 3 and BSAT-3a into orbit | publisher = Arianespace] 2007 on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. It lifted off at 23:44 GMT from Ariane Launch Complex 3 of the Guiana Space Centre. Five hours and 46 minutes later, signals from the spacecraft were successfully received at a ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa. [cite web | url = http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2007/q3/070815a_nr.html | title = Boeing-Built Spaceway 3 Satellite Operational after Successful Launch | publisher = Boeing Integrated Defense Systems]

Launch plan changed

In March 2007, shortly after the failure of a Sea Launch rocket launch in January, Hughes Network Systems switched launch of SPACEWAY-3 from a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket to an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. [cite web | url = http://www.hughes.com/HUGHES/Doc/0/9CBP91UN8SDKN4FT1I7FT0LQ7A/03-01-07_Hughes_Signs_Contract_with_Arianespace_to_Launch_SPACEWAY_3.htm | title = Hughes Signs Contract with Arianespace to Launch SPACEWAY 3 | date = March 1, 2007 | publisher = Hughes] [cite web | url = http://www.hns.com/HUGHES/Doc/0/O2TAOM5J20B4JD6PA9MMR5GS0B/12-08-05_HNS_SPACEWAY_Sea_Launch_award.htm | title = Hughes Network Systems Awards SPACEWAY 3 Launch Contract to Sea Launch Company | date = December 8, 2005 | publisher = Hughes]

Other SPACEWAY satellites

The satellites called SPACEWAY-1 and SPACEWAY-2 have been launched and provide high definition television to DIRECTV customers. SPACEWAY-1 and SPACEWAY-2 were originally part of the SPACEWAY system envisioned as a global K_a-band communications system before they were retasked by DIRECTV.

References

ee also

*DIRECWAY
*SPACEWAY
*DirecTV
*Ariane 5