 | ECS-OTS
Credit - ESA
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Class: Communications. Destination: Geosynchronous Orbit. Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. The OTS/ECS satellites were the first European-developed operational communications satellites, after
groundwork laid by two experimental French/German Symphonie satellites in the 1970s.
3-axis controlled, maintained by 2 x 25 Nms and 1 x 16 Nms momentum wheels, and 20 x 0.7 N / 8 N thrusters with 118 kg propellant. 1260 W generated by solar panels, feeding two 24 Ah NiCd batteries. On the Marecs series the spacecraft provided three repeaters: shore-to-ship with 5 MHz bandwidth, ship-to-shore with 6 MHz bandwidth, shore-to-shore with 0.5 MHz bandwidth. These provide 35 two-way voice channels plus search and rescue capabilities. Typical orbit: 36176 km x 35899 km at 0 to 23.3 deg inclina. Mass: 1,490 kg (3,280 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Ariane 1, Ariane 2/3, Ariane 44L, Ariane 44LP, Commercial Titan 3, Delta 3000, Delta 7000.
ECS/OTS Chronology
- 1978 May 11 - OTS 2 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta 3000. Mass: 865 kg (1,906 lb). Perigee: 36,085 km (22,422 mi). Apogee: 36,128 km (22,448 mi). Inclination: 13.10 deg. Period: 1,452.50 min.
Orbital Test Satellite; replacement for OTS-A; communications experiments. European Space Agency satellite. Launch time 2259 GMT. Reached definitive position, 10 deg east longitude, on May 24 at 0800 GMT. Launch by US Delta rocket. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Atlantic Ocean at 10 deg E in 1978-1982 over the Atlantic Ocean 5 deg E in 1982-1990 As of 30 August 2001 located at 18.51 deg W drifting at 4.070 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 39.02E drifting at 4.083W degrees per day.
- 1981 December 20 - MARECS 1 - Program: MARECS. Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 1. Mass: 582 kg (1,283 lb). Perigee: 36,782 km (22,855 mi). Apogee: 37,858 km (23,523 mi). Inclination: 10.80 deg. Period: 1,515.20 min.
MARECS-A was a geostationary maritime communications satellite, which formed part of INMARSAT's world-wide maritime communications satellite network. MARECS-A moved to a new position on the geostationary orbit. Old position: 334E. New position: 22.5 E. The Marecs satellites were members of Inmarsat's first generation global maritime communications network. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 26 deg W in 1982-1986; 178 deg E in 1986-1991; 20 deg E in 1991-1992; 22 deg E in 1992-1996 As of 1 September 2001 located at 11.08 deg W drifting at 18.839 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 168.28W drifting at 18.837W degrees per day.Additional Details: MARECS 1 (2652).
- 1988 July 21 - Eutelsat I F5 - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. Mass: 1,185 kg (2,612 lb). Perigee: 36,321 km (22,568 mi). Apogee: 36,456 km (22,652 mi). Inclination: 6.10 deg. Period: 1,466.90 min.
European communications; 13 deg E. ECS-5/Eutelsat I F5 is a regional geostationary telecommunications satellite for European countries. It is operated by the EUTELSAT organization. Frequency plan 136-138 MHz (S-E), 148-149.9 MHz (E-S), 10.7-11.7 GHz (S-E), 14.0-14.5 GHz (E-S). Launch time 2334:00 UT. ESA designator ESA/88/03. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 10 deg E in 1989-1991; 21 deg E in 1991-1998; 12 deg W in 1998-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 48.15 deg E drifting at 7.596 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 102.26W drifting at 7.597W degrees per day.
- 1990 January 1 - Skynet 4A - Program: Skynet. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34D. Mass: 1,463 kg (3,225 lb). Perigee: 35,782 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 5.50 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
British military communications; 6 deg E. Military communications. Expected life approx 7 years. Owner/operator: Ministry of Defence, Main Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 6 deg E in 1990; 29 deg E in 1991; 65 deg E in 1991; 34 deg W in 1992-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 34.01 deg W drifting at 0.003 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 63.46W drifting at 4.595W degrees per day.
- 2001 February 7 - Skynet 4F - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L. Mass: 2,596 kg (5,723 lb). Perigee: 35,772 km (22,227 mi). Apogee: 35,801 km (22,245 mi). Inclination: 2.90 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Skynet 4F was a communications satellite for the UK Ministry of Defense, and the last of the venerable ECS (European Communications Satellite) class of satellites built by Astrium/Stevenage. It carried a Thiokol Star 30 apogee motor and its mass was 1489 kg full, 830 kg dry - a dry mass more than twice the first OTS. The spacecraft carried a total of eight transponders in the SHF-, UHF-, and S-bands to provide secure communications after parking over either 1 deg-E or 6 deg-W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 6 deg E in 2001 As of 5 September 2001 located at 8.77 deg E drifting at 0.284 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 6.01E drifting at 0.004E degrees per day.
Bibliography and Further Reading - NASA GSFC Orbital Parameters, .
- Wilson, Andrew, editor,, Jane's/Interavia Space Directory, Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon, Surrey, 1992 et al. ISBN: 0710618107. The most comprehensive source of information for current space projects. Too expensive for human beings and most libraries. More at amazon.com...
- Bramscher, Robert G, Spaceflight, "A Survey of Launch Vehicle Failures", 1980, Volume 22, page 351.
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
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