| NSS-8 goes kaboom |
[Jan. 30th, 2007|06:39 pm] |
SES NEW SKIES' satellite NSS-8 was destroyed in a Sea Launch launch accident today (2322 GMT / 6:22 p.m. EST).
At liftoff, the rocket exploded and created a huge fireball on its equatorial launch pad at 154 degrees West longitude. The satellite feed of the launch and the corresponding webcast feed were both immediately taken off the air.
If all went well, the Sea Launch Zenit 3-SL rocket would have launched NSS-8 on its way to a final orbital longitude location of 57 degrees East.
NSS-8, a 13,050 pound satellite, featured 56 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders and was based on the Boeing 702-model design with a 15 year expected operational lifetime.
Sea Launch will establish a Failure Review Oversight Board to determine the cause of the launch accident. |
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