Sirius FM-6 readies for launch
October 16, 2013
By Chris Forrester
US pay-radio’s next satellite Sirius FM-6 will launch on the night of October 20th. International Launch Services (ILS) will take care of the task using its Proton M/Briz-M rocket and upper-stage booster combination. The launch will take place from ILS’ Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Built by Space Systems/Loral, the satellite will go to 116.5 degrees West orbital location, and serve Sirius-XM’s 25 million subscribers to what is now America’s largest radio broadcaster measured by revenues.
Sirius FM-6 will also help in the delivery of traffic and other data service information to markets across North America for vehicles with navigational systems. It has a planned life of some 15 years. It is the 6th Sirius-XM satellite to be launched by ILS Proton.
There will be a live web-cast of the launch starting 30 minutes ahead of launch.