When do the three Sirius satellites cross the equator?

---

Clarification of Question by norman9-ga on 15 Nov 2005 07:41 PST

Yes, but when do these satellites cross the equator?

Sirius uses a trio of Loral FS1300 satellites in unique elliptical
orbits in an effort to avoid the problems posed by geostationary
satellites.

The orbits, shaped like figure eights, allow the satellites to appear
higher in the sky than XM?s, cutting down on the potential for a
listener to be out of range of a satellite signal -- and allowing
Sirius to have a much smaller number of repeaters.

Sirius? repeater network also avoids the need for specialized antennas
that can track the company?s non-geostationary satellites as they move
about the sky, Sirius feeds its repeaters using capacity on a
geostationary satellite leased from a traditional satellite operator.
Listeners can?t tell that the signals they receive via the repeaters
do not travel over Sirius? fleet of satellites.

The Sirius satellites each spend about 16 hours over the United
States, then whip around the other side of the Earth and return eight
hours later for another stint hovering over Sirius? listening area,
according to Ted Hessler, the company?s vice president of space
segment and enterprise operations.

Two Sirius spacecraft cover the United States at any given time

there is an animation here http://www.cashflowbusiness.net/siri_orbit.htm
of the sirius and the xm sats
SIRIUS 1 -
http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=26390

SIRIUS 2 -
http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=26483

SIRIUS 3 -
http://www.heavens-above.com/orbitdisplay.asp?satid=26626