CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Cable companies that deliver some of the most popular networks to U.S. television viewers will soon be receiving their signals from a new satellite scheduled to be launched Tuesday from the edge of the Amazon forest in South America.
Liftoff of the Galaxy 4-R satellite atop an Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou is scheduled during a launch window that extends from 8:29 to 9:39 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Wednesday, 00:29 to 01:39 GMT).
"Everything is still on for Tuesday night," Arianespace spokeswoman Sharon Harper said Monday from the company's office in Washington, D.C.
Arianespace managers say the launch area has endured record rainfall recently and rain is forecast again on Tuesday, but the precipitation should "not pose a problem for the launch," according to Didier Cassé, the mission director for this flight.
Clouds are generally not a concern for Ariane launches unless they are known to have an electrical charge or other conditions are met that could lead the launching rocket to trigger a bolt of lightning. In fact, this is less of a problem for the Guiana Space Center because of its equatorial climate than it usually is for launches from Florida, which is known as the lightning capital of the United States.
"Galaxy 4R will deliver the highest-quality digital and analog video distribution, Internet and telecommunications services throughout the continent."
This will be Arianespace's fourth launch of the year. The mission features a version of the Ariane 4 rocket with two liquid-fueled strap-on boosters added to provide just enough lifting power to deliver the 8,070-pound (3,670-kilogram) satellite into orbit over the equator.
Hughes Space and Communications of El Segundo, California built the Galaxy 4-R satellite and procured the commercial launch service from Arianespace. The satellite is owned, and will be operated by PanAmSat Corp., of Greenwich, Connecticut.
"The upcoming launch of Galaxy 4-R demonstrates PanAmSats rapid deployment plans for new satellites," said Robert Bednarek, PanAmSats executive vice president and chief technology officer. "Galaxy 4-R will deliver the highest-quality digital and analog video distribution, internet and telecommunications services throughout the continent."
Galaxy 4-R will be the third satellite serving North America to be deployed by the company during the past four months. PanAmSat currently has 20 operational satellites in orbit. Four more spacecraft are planned to be sent into orbit by the middle of next year.
Among the television networks that will rely on the new satellite: A&E, Discovery Channel, ESPN, Home & Garden TV, the Food Network and the Weather Channel.
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