Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
00:35:00
Tuesday November 27, 2001
Last launch of Ariane 44LP. Flight V145.
DirecTV, Inc. ordered DirecTV-4S, another Boeing BSS-601HP satellite, in December 1999. It is the fifth Boeing satellite to be built for DirecTV. It was successfully launched on an Ariane-44LP H10-3 on 26 November 2001 and entered service on 27 December 2001. DirecTV-4S is the first spacecraft in the DirecTV fleet to use highly focused spot beam technology, which enables DirecTV to expand its local channel offerings in metropolitan markets. DirecTV-4S also further strengthens DirecTV's in-orbit redundancy. DirecTV-4S operates at the Ku-band frequency and carries two payloads: spot beams for local channels, and a national beam payload. The spot beam payload uses a total of 38 traveling wave-tube amplifiers (TWTAs), powered by a combination of 30-watt, 45-watt, 65-watt, and 88-watt TWTAs. The national beam payload carries two active transponders with further capability for two active high-power and six active low-power transponders.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
1 Payload
4,260 kilograms
Manufacturer
ESARocket
Diameter: 3.8m
Height: 58.72m
Payload to Orbit
GTO: 4,220 kg
Liftoff Thrust
5,800 Kilonewtons
Stages
3
Strap-ons
4
107th
Mission
6th
Mission of 2001
133rd
Mission
8th
Mission of 2001
53rd
Orbital launch attempt