Boeing has received the first on-orbit signals from DirecTV 12 nine hours after launch, indicating that the satellite is healthy and operating normally. DirecTV 12 is a Boeing 702 commercial satellite that will provide consumer television programming to millions of U.S. households.

DirecTV 12 lifted off on an International Launch Services Proton Breeze M vehicle on Dec. 28 at 4:22 p.m. Pacific time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"Controllers at the ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, reported spacecraft acquisition at 1:38 a.m. Pacific time today.

"Yesterday's launch marks the 10th satellite Boeing has built and launched for DirecTV, as well as the 22nd Boeing 702 satellite to fly in space," said Craig Cooning, Boeing vice president and general manager of Space and Intelligence Systems.

"We are pleased that DirecTV 12 is performing as planned and will continue to support the satellite through on-orbit testing in the coming months.

"From design and integration to launch and signal acquisition, our team has ensured that DirecTV's new 702 will help them continue to deliver high-definition (HD) digital programming while maintaining excellent quality service."

Handover of DirecTV 12 is scheduled for early 2010. Together with DirecTV 10 and 11, the new satellite will help significantly expand DirecTV's HDTV broadcasting to consumers across the contiguous United States, Hawaii and Alaska.