XM Radio"s Rock Satellite Begins Journey to Launch Site


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	XM Radio"s Rock Satellite Begins Journey to Launch Site By Jason Bates Space News Staff Writer posted: 01:00 pm ET 07 March 2001

WASHINGTON — XM Satellite Radio’s Rock satellite is headed toward the equator aboard Sea Launch’s ocean-going launch platform in preparation for a planned March 18 liftoff

WASHINGTON -- XM Satellite Radio’s Rock satellite is headed toward the equator aboard Sea Launch’s oceangoing launch platform in preparation for a planned March 18 liftoff.

The launch site is located about 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) from Sea Launch’s home port of Long Beach, California.

The launch is the first of two for XM, which intends to offer over 100 channels of digital quality radio programming via satellite throughout the United States starting this summer. XM’s second satellite, dubbed Roll, is scheduled for launch aboard a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket in early May.

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An attempt to launch Roll Jan. 8 was aborted seconds before liftoff due to concerns with the satellite, forcing Sea Launch to ship the rocket back to Long Beach for replacement of its first-stage engine. If a launch is scrubbed after pre-ignition fluid is injected into the rocket’s main engine, as was the case with Sea Launch, the main engine must be refurbished before it can be used.

XM subsequently decided to place Rock ahead of Roll in the launch queue.