Mission type Communications COSPAR ID 2002-023A Mission duration 12 years Inclination 0.01° Period 24 hours Launch site Baikonur Cosmodrome | Operator DirecTV SATCAT no. 27426 Manufacturer Space Systems/Loral Inclination 0.01° Launch date 7 May 2002 Bus SSL 1300 | |
Similar TDRS‑9, TDRS‑10, AMC‑21, Anik F1, JCSAT‑2A | ||
DIRECTV-5 is a communications satellite launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan in May, 2002 to provide mainly Spanish language satellite television programs to DirecTV customers from the 119 degrees West longitudinal orbit. It was built by Space Systems/Loral, as part of its LS-1300 line. In May 2004, DIRECTV successfully launched DIRECTV 7S, their second high powered spot beam. DIRECTV 7S is located at the 119 degree orbital slot.
DirecTV-5 was originally known as Tempo 1, and was originally intended for satellite provider ASkyB, who later sold the satellites to PrimeStar in the process of going out of business. PrimeStar's other satellite, Tempo 2 (later DirecTV-6) was launched in 1997, while Tempo 1 was stored until the company and both satellites were purchased by DirecTV. DirecTV eventually launched the Tempo 1 satellite after years of delays as the DirecTV-5 satellite in 2002.
Currently, DirecTV-5 is located at 109.8°W and provides channels for the Puerto Rico market.