A five second launch window for a Delta II launch this Friday of a batch of five backup Iridium birds will test Boeing’s Delta launch crew – the launch window opens at 5:37 a.m. PST.
This will be the eleventh Delta II launch for the Iridium system, a
global wireless communication network combining the worldwide reach
of 66 low-Earth orbit satellites with land-based wireless systems to
enable subscribers to connect with hand-held telephones and pagers
virtually anywhere in the world.
Delta II rockets have successfully placed 50 satellites into orbit for the Iridium system, with ten launches between May 1997 and September 1998.
Boeing builds the Delta II rocket in Huntington Beach, Calif., while
its Canoga Park, Calif., facility produces the Rocketdyne RS-27 first-
stage main engine. Final assembly takes place at the Boeing facility
in Pueblo, Colo. The Delta launch team at Vandenberg Air Force Base
handles launch coordination and operations for Iridium missions.
Alliant Techsystems, Magna, Utah, manufactures the graphite epoxy motors
for boost assist. Aerojet, Sacramento, Calif., builds the second-stage
engine, and AlliedSignal, Teterboro, N.J., produces the guidance and
flight control system.
The Iridium system is owned by Iridium LLC, an international consortium
of 17 investor organizations representing telecommunications and
industrial companies worldwide, with Motorola Satellite Communications
Group serving as the prime contractor.
There will be a live video feed of the MS-11 launch: Ku band transmission: Date Window Television on Air Satellite Transponder Nov. 6 5:37:52 a.m. PST 5:15 to 6:15 a.m. PST Telstar 5K 25 Telstar 5K / 25 is located at: 97W Uplink Frequency: 14446.0 (Horizontal) Downlink Frequency: 12146.0 (Vertical) C band transmission: Date Window Television on Air Satellite Transponder Nov. 6 5:37:52 a.m. PST 5:15 to 06:15 a.m. PST Telstar 4C 9 Telstar 4C / 9 is located at: 89W Uplink Frequency: 6105 (Horizontal) Downlink Frequency: 3880 (Vertical)
