Updated: 2:30 pm ET February 18, 2009
DIRECTV 11 / Zenit 3SL DIRECTV 11 (DTV 11) is owned and operated by DIRECTV, Inc. and manufactured by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems at the Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, California. The DTV 11 is Boeing¿s 702 model spacecraft, the most powerful satellite ever built. DTV 11, along with DIRECTV 10, one ground spare spacecraft, and six Ka-band uplink sites will enable DIRECTV to enhance and expand its delivery of High Definition Television (HDTV). Specifically with these systems, DIRECTV will be expanding HDTV broadcasting across the United States, Hawaii, and Alaska, expanding national HDTV, and enabling the broadcast of local HDTV to 90% of its customers. The orbital locations for DTV 11 (and DTV 10) will be 102.8 degrees West longitude and 99.2 degrees West longitude. The contract life is 15 years.
2:30 pm ET February 18, 2009