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Class: Communications. Destination: Geosynchronous Orbit. Nation: France. Agency: Arabsat. Manufacturer: Aerospatiale. Typical orbit: 35777 km x 35795 km at 0 degrees inclination. Mass: 2,760 kg (6,080 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L, Ariane 44LP, Ariane 44P, Ariane 5 EC-A, Ariane 5G, Atlas IIAS, Atlas IIIA, Atlas V.
Spacebus 3000 Chronology
- 1998 July 18 - Sinosat - Program: Sinosat. Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3B. Mass: 2,820 kg (6,210 lb). Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,795 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
The CZ-3B's liquid hydrogen upper stage and the Sinosat were placed in a 609 x 35958 km x 19.0 deg geostationary transfer orbit at 09:45 GMT. The first two liquid apogee burns were carried out on July 19 and 21. Sinosat, an Alcatel Spacebus 3000, was built in Cannes and owned temporarily by EurasSpace, a joint venture between Daimler-Benz Aerospace and the China Aerospace Corporation. After on-orbit testing it was delivered to the Sino Satellite Communications Company of Shanghai for communications services in China. The satellite carried 24 C-band transponders and 14 Ku-band transponders which covered the entire Asia-Pacific region. With a design life span of 15 years, the satellite was to provide multiple data transfer services for China's financial and air transportation control systems, as well as the Shanghai Information Port project, Sinosat operated in geosynchronous orbit at 110.5 deg E in 1998-1999. As of 5 September 2001 located at 110.55 deg E drifting at 0.012 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 110.51E drifting at 0.001W degrees per day.
- 1999 April 12 - Eutelsat W3 - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIAS. Perigee: 35,774 km (22,228 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg.
Communications satellite is for the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization. The vehicle entered a 153 km x 385 km x 27.4 deg parking orbit nine minutes after launch. The second Centaur stage burn delivered the satellite to a 166 km x 46,076 km x 19.7 deg super-synchronous transfer orbit. The satellite was stationed at 7 deg E and carried 24 Ku-band transponders with a wide beam covering Europe, North Africa and Asia, and a spot beam for digital TV to Turkey. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 7 deg E in 1999. As of 26 August 2001 located at 7.01 deg E drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 7 located at 21.59E drifting at 0.003E degrees per day.
- 2000 May 24 - Eutelsat W4 - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIIA. Mass: 3,190 kg (7,030 lb). Perigee: 35,775 km (22,229 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg.
Communications satellite. Maiden flight of Atlas IIIA with Russian RD-180 main engine; scrubbed four times. European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) satellite equipped with 32 Ku-band transponders, and antennae covering Russia and Africa. It will be stationed at 36 deg E. This was the third of the high power Eutelsat W series to be launched (W1 was destroyed in a ground accident). Stationed at 36 deg E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 32 deg E in 2000. As of 4 September 2001 located at 35.98 deg E drifting at 0.003 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 36.08E drifting at 0.005E degrees per day.
- 2001 January 10 - Turksat 2A - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44P. Mass: 3,535 kg (7,793 lb). Perigee: 35,764 km (22,222 mi). Apogee: 35,808 km (22,250 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Communications satellite. Launch delayed from December 8, 2000 and January 8. The Turksat 2A (Eurasiasat 1) satellite was an Alcatel Spacebus 3000B3 with a dry mass of 1577 kg (launch mass 3535 kg) and a 37m solar panel span. The satellite was placed in a 162 x 36742 km x 2.9 deg orbit; by January 13 the perigee had been raised to 21185 km. The satellite had 36 Ku-band transponders and three antennae. The dual name was probably due to the dual ownership of the spacecraft: 75% by Turk Telecom and 25% by the manufacturer Alcatel Space Company. The 3.4 tonne, 9 kW spacecraft was to provide direct-to-home voice, video, and data transmissions to countries between central Europe and the Indian subcontinent, through its 32 "BSS- and FSS-bands" transponders, after parking over 42 deg-E longitude (replacing the aging Turksat 1C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 42 deg E in 2001 As of 4 September 2001 located at 41.96 deg E drifting at 0.016 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 42.03E drifting at 0.008E degrees per day.
- 2001 March 8 - Eurobird - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5G. Mass: 3,050 kg (6,720 lb). Perigee: 35,773 km (22,228 mi). Apogee: 35,798 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min.
Launch delayed from March 2. Eurobird was a Spacebus 3000B3 built by Alcatel (Cannes). It was the 18th member of the European Eutelsat consortium's geosynchronous constellation and carried 24 Ku-band transponders to provide broad bandwidth and high power direct-to-home transmissions to enable digital entertainment and internet connections. The three tonne (with fuel) satellite was to be parked over 28.5 deg-E longitude, replacing the aging Copernicus (Kopernikus (DFS 3), 1992-066A). Dry mass was probably around 1300 kg. The satellite had an Astrium S400 bipropellant engine. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 28 deg E in 2001 As of 4 September 2001 located at 28.50 deg E drifting at 0.005 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 28.52E drifting at 0.000W degrees per day.
- 2001 September 25 - Atlantic Bird 2 - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44P. Mass: 3,149 kg (6,942 lb). Perigee: 35,769 km (22,225 mi). Apogee: 35,804 km (22,247 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Ariane V144 placed the Atlantic Bird 2 satellite in geostationary transfer orbit. Atlantic Bird 2 was an Alcatel/Cannes Spacebus 3000B2 Ku-band communications satellite owned by the European consortium Eutelsat. It replaced the Telecom 2A satellite at 8 deg W. AB-2 had a dry mass of 1368 kg and a launch mass of 3150 kg. Atlantic Bird 1, built by Alenia, was to be launched at a later date. The spacecraft was the twenty-second member of the fleet. and was to provide high-speed television, video streaming, radio and internet services between North and South America, and Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, through its 26 Ku-band transponders. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 8.04W drifting at 0.002W degrees per day.
- 2002 August 21 - Hot Bird 6 - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Mass: 3,905 kg (8,609 lb). Perigee: 35,757 km (22,218 mi). Apogee: 35,814 km (22,253 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
This was the maiden flight of the Atlas 5 EELV. Launch delayed from May 9, July 8 and 29, August 6 and 12 due to both payload and booster delays. Hot Bird 6 was a European (EUTELSAT) geostationary communications spacecraft. The 4.9-ton Hot Bird 6 (a Spacebus 3000B3) was to provide digital radio and television coverage to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East through its 28 Ku-band and four Ka-band transponders after being parked over 13° E longitude. As of 2007 Mar 4 located at 12.95E drifting at 0.012E degrees per day.
- 2002 December 11 - Stentor - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 EC-A. FAILURE: The Ariane 5 core's Vulcain-2 engine begain failing at T+178 seconds. The rocket veered off course and the destruct signal was sent. Mass: 2,210 kg (4,870 lb).
Maiden flight of Ariane 5 EC-A. Delayed from October, November 20 and 28. Stentor, a French experimental geostationary direct broadcast communications satellite, was lost in the failed first flight of the Ariane 5 EC-A. Value of the lost satellite was Euro 388 million.
- 2002 July 5 - Stellat 5 - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5G. Mass: 4,050 kg (8,920 lb). Perigee: 35,767 km (22,224 mi). Apogee: 35,807 km (22,249 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Launch delayed from late June. Stellat-5 was an Alcatel Spacebus 3000B3 with a dry mass of 1805 kg and 2245 kg of propellant. The satellite carried Ku-band and C-band transponders, and was a joint venture between France Telecom and Europeon.Star which was to provide 2-way internet access and video transmission from 5 deg W. Stellat-5 was colocated with France Telecom's Telecom 2C. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 4.99W drifting at 0.000E degrees per day.
- 2002 November 20 - Eutelsat W5 - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta IV Medium. Mass: 3,170 kg (6,980 lb). Perigee: 35,788 km (22,237 mi). Apogee: 35,801 km (22,245 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.50 min.
Maiden flight of the Delta 4 EELV booster, delayed due to development problems from January and November 2001, April 30, July 15, August 31, October 9, November 3, 16 and 19. EUTELSAT W5 was a European (EUTELSAT Consortium) geostationary communication spacecraft. EUTELSAT W5 was to provide voice, video, and Internet services to all countries in western Europe, central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent through its 24 Ku-band transponders after being parked over 70.5° E longitude. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 70.55E drifting at 0.004W degrees per day.
- 2002 November 25 - Astra 1K - Program: Astra. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01. FAILURE: The Block DM upper stage failed to ignite for its second burn, leaving the satellite in parking orbit. Mass: 5,250 kg (11,570 lb). Perigee: 244 km (151 mi). Apogee: 317 km (196 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 90.10 min.
Delayed from December 2001 and July 15, August 16 and 25. Astra 1K was to be a European (Luxembourg-based) geostationary communications spacecraft. The 5.0-ton, 13-kW spacecraft was the most massive of civilian communications spacecraft ever launched. Its 52 Ku-band and two Ka-band transponders could cover 1,100 channels and were to replace three earlier Astra satellites. However the DM-3 upper stage, after operating successfully to place itself and the satellite in parking orbit, failed to ignite for transfer orbit injection, leaving the spacecraft stranded in parking orbit. In an effort to prevent imminent re-entry, the spacecraft was raised to a circular orbit at an altitude of 290 km. Three options were considered: force re-entry over the Pacific Ocean; retrieval by a US shuttle; or use of all the fuel aboard the satellite to attempt to move it to a geostationary orbit at 19.2° E longitude. The decision was taken in December to deorbit the spacecraft, resulting in a huge insurance loss and bringing into question both continued use of the Block D series of upper stages and the 'bigger is better' comsat philosophy.
- 2002 September 18 - Hispasat 1D - Program: Hispasat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIAS. Mass: 3,250 kg (7,160 lb). Perigee: 35,772 km (22,227 mi). Apogee: 35,802 km (22,246 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Launch delayed from May 28, August 14. Hispasat 1D was a Spanish geostationary communications spacecraft. The 3.3-ton, 7.0-kW satellite carried three antennae looking in different directions to provide video, data, and Internet services to Europe, North America, and North Africa via 28 Ku-band transponders after being parked over 30° W longitude alongside Hispasat 1A, 1B, and 1C. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 29.97W drifting at 0.014W degrees per day.
- 2003 June 6 - AMC-9 - Program: Americom. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / Briz-M. Mass: 4,100 kg (9,000 lb). Perigee: 35,778 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,796 km (22,242 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Launch delayed from December 2002, then to February 10, 2003, then to February 28, March 15, April 28 and May 19. Finally moved forward from June 12 and 7. Upper stage changed from DM3 after several failures. The fifth burn of the Briz-M upper stage placed the spacecraft in a geostationary transfer orbit of 6,445 km x 35,674 km x 17.2 deg. The satellite used its own engine to place itself in geosynchronous orbit at apogee. Alcatel Spacebus 3000B3 with C and Ku band communications for North America from a geotationary position of 72 deg W. Americom at the time of launch had become a subsidiary of Societe Europeene des Satellites (SES), Luxembourg, which operated the European Astra satellie constellation. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 83.02W drifting at 0.008W degrees per day.
- 2004 March 15 - W3A - Program: Eutelsat. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82M. Mass: 4,250 kg (9,360 lb). Perigee: 35,761 km (22,220 mi). Apogee: 35,811 km (22,251 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Moved from Ariane 5. The satellite was to provide a full range of telecommunications applications including digital DVB broadcasting, multimedia, broadband access and pay-per-use bandwidth for corporate networks over a large zone covering Europe and Africa, for a minimum of 12 years. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 6.95E drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.
Bibliography and Further Reading
- 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.
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