Echostar 15 Moves to 119W

[nelson61]

Dish has filed to move Echostar 15 (launched July 2010) from the nominal 61.5W slot to 119W.
Echostar 15 is a Conus satellite.

"At the nominal 119º W.L. orbital location, EchoStar currently uses one satellite in the DBS band – the EchoStar 14 satellite – and one in the Fixed Satellite Service spectrum – Anik F3. Once moved from 61.65º W.L. to 118.8º W.L., EchoStar15 will begin active operations as EchoStar migrates services from the older EchoStar 14 satellite."

FCC file location:

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr031b.hts?q_set=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number/%3D/SATMOD2025012300024&prepare=&column=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number

 

[syphix]

Both Echostar 14 & 15 were launched in 2010, each with a 15 year lifespan. Echostar 15 is only four months younger, but significantly lighter (5,521kg vs 6,384 kg).

How else is it different? More bandwidth?

 

[MikeD-C05]

Both Echostar 14 & 15 were launched in 2010, each with a 15 year lifespan. Echostar 15 is only four months younger, but significantly lighter (5,521kg vs 6,384 kg).

How else is it different? More bandwidth?

Sounds like the time is running out on the older satellite so they are moving it out of necessity. I doubt they will be launching any more satellites for DISH anymore. Just using the ones they have till the service goes out.

 

[nelson61]

They have asked for authorization no later than March 31

 

[telstar_1]

Sounds like the time is running out on the older satellite so they are moving it out of necessity. I doubt they will be launching any more satellites for DISH anymore. Just using the ones they have till the service goes out.

But if both same age and life projection, why one taking over for other, unless something amiss with the one? Also, wouldn't it burn significant fuel to move from 61 to 119, thus reducing on-station life? Sounds more like would be a situation of getting a redundancy backup into position, if not simply to increase total bandwidth @ 119 and/or 110

 

[nelson61]

The filing indicates anticipated life to 2028 for Echostar 15 - 18 years from launch.