Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today confirmed that the DIRECTV 10 satellite has sent its first on-orbit signals to the Boeing Mission Control Center in El Segundo, Calif., indicating that the satellite is healthy and operating normally.

An International Launch Services Proton Breeze M vehicle launched the satellite yesterday at 9:16 p.m. EDT (1:16 GMT July 7) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, reported spacecraft acquisition 9 hours, 49 minutes later.

Boeing's advanced telecommunications technology aboard the 702 model satellite will expand DIRECTV's national and local high-definition services across the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska.

"This is the eighth satellite we've delivered for DIRECTV, which will provide unprecedented local and national high-definition television to DIRECTV customers," said Howard Chambers, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "We've provided DIRECTV satellites since 1993, and we look forward to completing the on-orbit maneuvers and tests of this newest spacecraft. Once on-orbit testing is complete, we'll hand over the satellite to DIRECTV, and they can put it into service for the 16 million DIRECTV customers who recognize the value of this space-based broadcasting system."

DIRECTV 10, one of three next-generation satellites Boeing is building for DIRECTV, features state-of-the-art antenna and payload subsystems and a 48-meter solar array, resulting in 18,000 watts of spacecraft power.