Hotbird 6 launch - 21st August 2002
Hot Bird 6 was launched from Cape Canaveral on 21st August 2002. It was launched on the inaugral flight of the new Atlas 5 booster. At 23.05 BST, the rocket motors were fired and the Atlas headed for the stars. The booster had 2 cameras on board, and there were some fantastic pictures as the Atlas cleared the launch tower. Later on, the second camera had some dramatic shots of the Earth as it headed for transfer orbit.
Less than 30 minutes after launch HB 6 was seperated from the Atlas, and about 20 minutes later was declared "live". The spacecraft now has to be manouvered to its shakedown location, then on to it final home of 13șE. Eutelsat expect it to be in service at the end of September.
It will be replacing the ailing HB 5, which is due to move to a new orbital location.
The launch was carried live on Hotbird 4 12673V SR 27500 FEC 3/4 - the channel id was "Hotbird 6 launch"
23.05 BST. All engines at full power and the Atlas 5 launcher 001 clears the brand new Pad 41 at Cape Canaveral.
One of the incredible on-board shots from the Atlas 5 taken a few seconds after liftoff.
All launch pictures © International Launch Services
Successful space launches have traditionally
been celebrated with the release of a sew-on patch.
(For the moon missions these were the mission patches that the astronauts wore on
their space suits)
The Atlas 5 - 001 mission also has its patch:
Hotbird 6 went into service and replaced Hotbird 5 at 13E on 25th September 2002
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