Dish Wants to Park Newly Launched EchoStar 18 in Different Orbit

EchoStar 18, launched in June, would be a more efficient in-orbit spare if it were at 61.35 degrees west instead of its licensed 109.9 degrees west, Dish Network said in an FCC International Bureau filing Friday. Dish said it initially anticipated the satellite would be an in-orbit spare and eventually replace EchoStar 10, providing service from the 110 degrees west orbital cluster, but the company has since decided using it as an in-orbit spare at 61.35 degrees west "would be an efficient use of its satellite fleet." EchoStar 18 temporarily is at 67.2 degrees west for in-orbit testing, it said.