DirecTV-11

DirecTV-11

Operator	DirecTV
Major contractors	Boeing
Bus	BSS-702
Launch date	March 19, 2008
Carrier rocket	Zenit-3SL
Mission duration	15 years
Orbital elements
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	99.2°W
Transponders
Capacity	500 MHz

DirecTV-11, also known as D11, is a Boeing model 702 satellite built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center.

Technology

This satellite is functionally identical to DirecTV-10 and is co-located with SPACEWAY-2 at or very near 99.225°W.

Launch data

DirecTV-11 had originally been scheduled for launch by Sea Launch in November, 2007. Following a launch failure at Sea Launch that resulted in damage to the facility, the expected launch date was changed to March 19, 2008. Launch occurred at 22:47:59 GMT on March 19, 2008 and the spacecraft separated from the carrier rocket 61 minutes later, following a successful ascent.

Testing

Boeing handed over the DirecTV-11 satellite to DirecTV on Monday, July 21, 2008 according to a press release on the Boeing website. This means that the satellite is "parked" at or extremely close to its final location of 99.225ºW. Customers with High-Definition receivers or High-Definition DVRs can see new satellite readings under the "Satellite Strength" menu on their receiver. The DirecTV-11 will show up as 99(a) or 99(b) for High-Def receivers and 99(c) and 99(s) for High-Definition DVRs.

Broadcasting to customers

DirecTV-11 began broadcasting High-Definition channels to customers on July 31, 2008. Those first channels were MPEG-4 counterparts of the older MPEG-2 channels DirecTV originally carried in the 70-79 channel range as well as four east coast distant network channels. Since the initial roll out of channels in July, DirecTV has added over 40 more HD channels to DirecTV-11. These channels included converting some part time regional sports networks to full time HD channels as well as new national HD channels like ABC Family and Comedy Central, some premium channels, and HD pay-per-view. DirecTV-11 now broadcasts over 50 HD channels, bringing DirecTV's total HD channel count over 130.