What do you think regarding the fact that dish may have 2 launches in 2009, Nimiq-5 to 72.7 and Echostar 14 to 119, I mean with all this economic turbulence going on worldwide ?
Nimiq announced awhile ago if memory serves that after Nimiq 5 they were going to be laying off of the launches. Also, I don't think Nimiq 6 would go to 77w when 77w is a Mexican slot. In fact, I believe the new 'Dishnetwork Mexico' is going to have a satellite launching there as a Quiznat (sp?) satellite. Whenever Nimq 6 comes down the pipe, I probably see it going to 91w to replace any and all of the Nimiq birds that are there right now, as 82w just got a new bird in place that should have 15 years in life.
Talking about Canada, Ciel IV is going to 138 west another Canadian slot. That satellite is 5-6 years away...
Maybe someone with more knowledge can confirm E14. I thought it was going to 119w, with the E3 replacement being E6 when Nimiq 5 arrives - which then will open up a few TPs that presently E3 and E12 are not able to serve. No idea where E7 would go if E14 is to replace it, with part of the question being can the TPs that are used as spots be turned to Conus beams or must they stay as spots? Perhaps it would go to 77w and the beams could be used.