Quick-look data indicate a success. Firing was commanded on the sixth apogee of the geosynchronous transfer orbit. The event circularized ACTS onto an approximate geosynchronous orbit. It will now drift over a period of days to its permanent location of 100 degrees west longitude. All spacecraft systems are functioning nominally following the firing.
Activities are underway to determine the exact orbit and attitude achieved.
Tonight the spacecraft will be commanded to execute the first in a series of small-thruster burns. These will gradually place ACTS in its stationary orbit over the equator. It was commanded near the sixth apogee of the geosynchronous transfer orbit. The total impulse from the AKM was extremely close to the nominal value. Spacecraft pointing during the burn was within the expected uncertainty and well within the pre- mission planning value.