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XM-2

Launch Successful

Launch Details

Date: 18 Mar 2001, 10:33 pm UTC

Rocket: Zenit (Zenith)

Provider: Sea Launch

Mission

Type: Communications

Orbit: Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Pad: Launch Platform Odyssey, Sea Launch

Mission Description

Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc., now Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc., and XM Satellite Radio Inc. (XMTM) signed a contract 23 March 1998, for two BSS-702 model satellites, named XM 1 and XM 2 (nicknamed "Rock" and "Roll"). These satellites are designed to provide state-of-the-art digital audio radio programming directly to cars, homes and portable radios coast to coast.