Most of the news stories are still focussing on
the launch, but the press release from
Sea Launch Company reports
All systems performed nominally throughout
the flight. The Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the 5,958 kg
(13,108 lb.) satellite to
geosynchronous
transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position of 53
degrees West Longitude. A ground station at Lake Cowichan, in
British Columbia, acquired the first signal from the satellite less
than 25 minutes after spacecraft separation, as planned.
Source:
Sea Launch
Delivers Inmarsat-4 Satellite to Orbit.
Daily Wireless has some nice
images of the coverage areas of the F1 and F2 satellites and of
Inmarsat 8's United States footprint. It also says there that an
available F3 could cover parts of Japan and Australia. Inmarsat has
an Atlas 5 launch contract, and an Atlas 5 launched the F1, so
perhaps the F3 will go up as well.
From
Mission log events on the
Inmarsat
site:
The satellite will now begin deployment and
testing, with a number of key milestones ahead before being
fully-deployed in geostationary orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,237
miles) above the Equator, over northern Brazil [at 53 or 54 degrees
West].