Inmarsat

home
topic index

Program: Inmarsat. Objective: Communications. Overview: Mobile communications satellite network.

Major Events:

1990 October 30 - Inmarsat 2 F1. Spacecraft: Eurostar 1000. Mass: 1,385 kg (3,053 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.
Mobile communications; 64.5 deg E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 65 deg E in 1990-1996; 179 deg E in 1996-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 178.97 deg E drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 143.50E drifting at 0.015W degrees per day.

1991 March 8 - Inmarsat 2 F2. Spacecraft: Eurostar 1000. Mass: 1,385 kg (3,053 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.
Mobile and maritime communications; 15.5 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 15 deg W in 1991-1996; 55 deg W in 1997-1999; DRIFT As of 6 September 2001 located at 97.95 deg W drifting at 0.002 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 97.96W drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.

1991 December 16 - Inmarsat 2 F3. Spacecraft: Eurostar 1000. Mass: 1,310 kg (2,880 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.
Global maritime and mobile communications; 178 deg E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 178 deg E in 1992-1997; 65 deg E in 1997-1999 As of 29 August 2001 located at 65.01 deg E drifting at 0.003 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 155.28W drifting at 15.158W degrees per day.

1992 April 15 - Inmarsat 2 F4. Spacecraft: Eurostar 1000. Mass: 1,385 kg (3,053 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.
Stationed at 55 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 54 deg W in 1992-1997; 17 deg W in 1997-1999; DRIFT As of 4 September 2001 located at 109.00 deg E drifting at 0.022 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 108.99E drifting at 0.020W degrees per day.

1996 April 3 - Inmarsat 3 F1. Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 2,068 kg (4,559 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.
Geostationary at 64.1E. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with RAAN Cntl trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 64 deg E in 1996-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 63.98 deg E drifting at 0.003 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 64.52E drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.

1996 September 6 - Inmarsat 3 F2. Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 1,021 kg (2,250 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton.
Geostationary at 15.5W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 15 deg W in 1996-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 15.48 deg W drifting at 0.005 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 7 located at 15.47W drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.

1996 December 18 - Inmarsat 3 F3. Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 1,021 kg (2,250 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas.
Geostationary at 157.6E. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with RAAN Cntl trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 178 deg E in 1997-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 178.02 deg E drifting at 0.006 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 178.19E drifting at 0.002E degrees per day.

1997 June 3 - Inmarsat 3 F4. Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 1,021 kg (2,250 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.
Geosynchronous. Stationed over 54.0W Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 54 deg W in 1997-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 53.97 deg W drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 142.07W drifting at 0.000E degrees per day.

1998 February 4 - Inmarsat 3 F5. Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 1,021 kg (2,250 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.
Geostationary at 25.0 degrees E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 25 deg E in 1998-1999 As of 24 July 2001 located at 25.09 deg E drifting at 0.020 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 25.07E drifting at 0.017W degrees per day.

2005 March 11 - Inmarsat 4-F1. Spacecraft: Eurostar 3000. Mass: 5,959 kg (13,137 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V.
Heaviest single payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit to that date. Delayed from October 2004, February 27, March 10, 2005. The satellite was to provide L-band mobile communications and wideband data transmission for Inmarsat's global network. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 63.82E drifting at 0.000E degrees per day.

2005 November 8 - Inmarsat 4F-2. Spacecraft: Eurostar 3000. Mass: 5,958 kg (13,135 lb). Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Vehicle: Zenit.
The satellite was fitted with a 10 meter diameter antenna for mobile communications. Payload moved from Ariane 5 EC-A. Launch delayed from September, November 4 and 5, 2005. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 52.87W drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.

Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.