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Program: Satcom. Objective: Communications. Overview: Series of communications satellites started by RCA Americom in 1975 and continued by GE when it took over RCA.
Major Events:

  • 1975 December 13 - Satcom 1.  Spacecraft: AS 1000. Mass: 464 kg (1,022 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Pacific Ocean at 135 deg W in 1976-1983; over the Americas at 119 deg W in 1983-1984; over the Pacific Ocean 139 deg W in 1984 As of 5 September 2001 located at 38.03 deg E drifting at 2.422 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 137.85W drifting at 2.426W degrees per day.

  • 1976 March 26 - RCA Satcom 2.  Spacecraft: AS 1000. Mass: 463 kg (1,020 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Americas at 119 deg W in 1976-1984 over the Pacific Ocean 139 deg W in 1984-1985 As of 5 September 2001 located at 72.03 deg W drifting at 5.939 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 127.82W drifting at 5.942W degrees per day.

  • 1979 December 7 - RCA Satcom 3.  Spacecraft: AS 1000. Mass: 463 kg (1,020 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Failed before reaching geosynchronous orbit.

  • 1981 November 20 - RCA Satcom 4; RCA Satcom 3R.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,078 kg (2,376 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 131 deg W in 1981-1991 As of 3 September 2001 located at 86.96 deg W drifting at 0.634 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 140.04W drifting at 0.601W degrees per day.

  • 1982 January 16 - RCA Satcom 4.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,082 kg (2,385 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 83 deg W in 1982-1987; 82 deg W in 1987-1991 As of 2 September 2001 located at 171.96 deg E drifting at 2.443 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 101.04W drifting at 2.479W degrees per day.

  • 1982 October 28 - Satcom 5.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 590 kg (1,300 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 143 deg W in 1982-1991; 105 deg W in 1992-2007.

  • 1983 April 11 - RCA Satcom 6.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 2,385 kg (5,258 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 139 deg W in 1983-1991; 131 deg W in 1991-1992 As of 5 September 2001 located at 148.59 deg W drifting at 1.499 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 90.26E drifting at 1.535W degrees per day.

  • 1983 September 8 - RCA Satcom 7.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,121 kg (2,471 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 72 deg W in 1983-1995 As of 4 September 2001 located at 143.00 deg E drifting at 3.084 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 40.27E drifting at 3.104W degrees per day.

  • 1985 November 27 - Satcom K2.  Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 1,812 kg (3,994 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.

    Released by STS 61B 11/28/85; 81 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 81 deg W in 1985-1996; 85 deg W in 1996-1997; 81 deg W in 1997-1999 As of 6 September 2001 located at 80.95 deg W drifting at 0.009 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 157.11W drifting at 2.398W degrees per day.

  • 1986 January 12 - Satcom K1.  Spacecraft: AS 4000. Mass: 1,923 kg (4,239 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.

    Stationed at 81 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 85 deg W in 1986-1997; 87 deg W in 1997 As of 31 August 2001 located at 61.19 deg W drifting at 2.593 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 125.55E drifting at 2.586W degrees per day.

  • 1990 November 20 - Satcom C1.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,169 kg (2,577 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.

    Stationed at 137 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 137 deg W in 1990-1991; 139 deg W in 1991; 137 deg W in 1991-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 78.98 deg W drifting at 0.013 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 151.83E drifting at 3.912W degrees per day.

  • 1992 August 31 - Satcom C4.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Stationed at 135 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 135 deg W in 1992-1999 As of 3 September 2001 located at 135.00 deg W drifting at 0.002 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 164.40W drifting at 4.518W degrees per day.

  • 1992 September 10 - Satcom C3.  Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,375 kg (3,031 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.

    Stationed at 131 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 143 deg W in 1992; 131 deg W in 1992-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 130.93 deg W drifting at 0.000 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 79.06W drifting at 0.008W degrees per day.

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.