Launch Problems Should Not Affect Satellite Life
By Staff Writer | June 29, 2004
Officials from Loral Space & Communications today said the Telstar 18 satellite, launched last night at 11:59 EDT from the Sea Launch LLC Odyssey Launch Platform, will be able to achieve its specified life of 13 years, even though it was placed in a lower than expected transfer orbit. Sea Launch officials said the Zenith-3SL launch vehicle’s upper stage prematurely separated from the rocket, causing the satellite to be placed in a lower than planned transfer orbit. However, Loral officials said current data indicates the satellite has sufficient on-board fuel to bring it to its final orbital position (138 degrees East longitude) and exceed its 13-year specified life.