XM Satellite Radio's XM-4 satellite was succesfully launched on Monday at 6:49 pm ET from the Sea Launch Odyssey Launch Platform in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean on the equator. Everything was... nominal.
The XM-4 satellite final orbital position at 115 degrees West Longitude will replace XM's first two XM-1 and XM-2 satellites that were launched in 2001, which are expected to go belly-up around the beginning of 2008. For the meantime, both XM-1 and XM-2 will remain as in orbit spares in support of XM-3 and XM-4.
XM-4 is a Boeing BS-702 satellite that has 18 kW of power at the beginning of life, and an expected 15.5 kW at its end-of-life. XM-4 should last XM for 15+ years.
Want to watch video the XM-4 launching? Sure you do, check out the archived webcast here.
(...and yes, I was on vacation that past two days, so I'm doing a little catch up on the news.)
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