ECHOSTAR XI - Launch Countdown Has Begun

[harshness]

It had until the 20th to finish testing and be up and running. It's on schedule since it's at 119 now to be at 110 by the 20th.

While in the current orbit it will reach 110W on or a little after the 20th but there will still need to be an orbit diameter change to get it parked. It is indeed running a little behind schedule.

 

[HDRoberts]

Yep, Dish had to request an extension to their STA to move the sat as the testing took "longer than anticipated." See the sticky for some details (although we don't know what went wrong, if anything). In any event, this sat is going active in record time, even with the delay.