37185 - XM-5

XM-5, a telecommunication satellite, was launched from Baikonur on 14 October 2010 at 18:53 UT by a Proton rocket. The satellite is parked at 85.2 degrees W longitude. The satellite is an orbital spare for the XM 3 and XM 4 satellites currently transmitting operational radio signals. XM 5 has two 29.5-foot-diameter unfurlable mesh antennas that broadcast the Sirius XM Radio's 135 audio channels. The antennas are connected to an S-band downlink and X-band uplink communications payload. The satellite is designed to last for at least 15 years in space, and will produce nearly 20 kW of power at the end of its mission.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2010-10-14
Launch Vehicle: Proton
Launch Site: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), Kazakhstan