# DirecTV-12

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5280201](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5280201)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T12_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/directv-12

## Summary
DirecTV-12 is a communications satellite operated by DirecTV. Launched on December 29, 2009, it utilizes a geostationary orbit to provide telecommunications services. The satellite was deployed using a Russian Proton-M launch vehicle equipped with a Briz-M space tug.

## Key Facts
- **Operator:** DirecTV
- **Launch Date:** December 29, 2009
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-M (Russian heavy-lift launch vehicle)
- **Upper Stage:** Briz-M space tug
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200
- **COSPAR ID:** 2009-075A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 36131
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit
- **Instance of:** Communications satellite
- **Also Known As:** D12, T12, DIRECTV 12

## FAQs
### Q: When was DirecTV-12 launched?
A: DirecTV-12 was launched on December 29, 2009.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch DirecTV-12?
A: The satellite was launched using a Proton-M rocket, a Russian heavy-lift launch vehicle, augmented by a Briz-M space tug.

### Q: Where was DirecTV-12 launched from?
A: It was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.

### Q: What type of satellite is DirecTV-12?
A: DirecTV-12 is an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications, currently positioned in geostationary orbit.

## Why It Matters
DirecTV-12 serves as a critical component of the DirecTV satellite fleet, designed to support the delivery of telecommunications services. Its launch in late 2009 marked a specific effort to expand or sustain the operator's capacity in geostationary orbit.

The deployment of DirecTV-12 highlights the reliance of major telecommunications providers on international launch infrastructure. Although operated by an American entity, the satellite was lifted into space by a Russian Proton-M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This mission illustrates the cross-border cooperation often required to place heavy communications payloads into precise orbital slots. As a geostationary satellite, it maintains a fixed position relative to the Earth's surface, ensuring consistent coverage for its designated service area.

## Notable For
- **International Launch Profile:** Being a satellite operated by a US company (DirecTV) launched on a Russian/Soviet-designed vehicle (Proton-M).
- **Specific Launch Infrastructure:** Utilization of the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200, a historic launch complex.
- **Heavy-Lift Capability:** Deployment via the Proton-M system, indicative of the satellite's mass and complexity.
- **Orbital Positioning:** Its placement in geostationary orbit allows for stable, long-term telecommunications coverage.

## Body
### Mission Overview
DirecTV-12 is identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 36131 and the COSPAR ID 2009-075A. As an instance of a communications satellite, its primary function is to facilitate artificial satellite-based telecommunications. The spacecraft is operated exclusively by DirecTV.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite's significant event, a rocket launch, occurred on December 29, 2009.
- **Location:** The launch originated from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.
- **Vehicle:** The launch vehicle utilized was the Proton-M, a heavy-lift rocket from the Soviet/Russian Proton family.
- **Delivery System:** To achieve its final trajectory, the launch included a Briz-M space tug, which acts as an upper stage to propel the satellite into its target orbit.

### Orbital Specifications
Following its launch, DirecTV-12 was positioned in a geostationary orbit. This orbit allows the satellite to match the Earth's rotation, effectively remaining stationary over a specific point on the globe. This is a standard operational profile for communications satellites to ensure consistent signal transmission to ground receivers.

### Alternate Designations
The entity is referenced by several aliases in various databases and languages, including D12, T12, and DIRECTV 12. Its Wikipedia entry is titled "T12 (satellite)," and it appears in databases such as Freebase (ID: /m/09ghhg8) and the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "36131"]`.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report