LiveU HEVC, Bonded Cellular Anchor Live Stream of World Circumnavigation Speed Record Attempt

Action Aviation Chairman Hamish Harding and Astronaut Terry Virts will attempt to beat the world record for circling the globe via both poles from July 9-11 on board a Qatar Executive Gulfstream G650ER aircraft. The mission, titled One More Orbit, pays tribute to the achievements of the Apollo missions by highlighting how humans push the boundaries of aeronautics. The mission launched on the morning of July 9 at 9:32 a.m. – the same time as the original Apollo 11 flight.

The flight crew will keep in touch with folks on the ground with a live stream powered by Satcom Direct, Inmarsat, and LiveU, providing the satellite bandwidth and live feed from the aircraft.

LiveU is excited to be part of this record-breaking live stream, which leverages satellite, HEVC, and cellular bonded technology to deliver high-quality, reliable video. The robust hybrid live solution allows the crew to communicate with teams on the ground all over the world and documents the amazing 25,000-mile (40,000 km) journey.

“The logistics of pulling this mission off, from a global broadcast standpoint, are tremendous,” says Jim Evans, executive producer of mission partner Untitled Inc. “Our worldwide network of production talent are making this happen as a global live streaming event and documentary. We’re creating the ability to connect the mission with major outlets including iHeart media, Facebook’s Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and the BBC.”

Virts, a filmmaker known for his work on the IMAX film A Beautiful Planet, along with Evans, will chronicle the meticulous preparations and the mission itself, framing the journey in a documentary about the attempt.

The flight took off from Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility (formerly Shuttle Landing Facility) at Kennedy Space Center heading directly to the North Pole. From there, the crew will stop in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan to refuel, before flying to Mauritius to begin the South Pole leg of the journey. After another brief refueling stopover in Punta Arenas, Chile, the crew will return to Florida. At a sustained 516 mph (827 km/h) for the entire trip, they aim to break the current record by around 23 minutes over the 48-hour mission. Refueling stops will be handled like Grand Prix pit stops.

The speed record will be certified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and the Guinness World Records.

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