Skynet home
topic index
Program: Skynet. Objective: Communications. Type: Military. Overview: Military communications satellite network.
Major Events:

  • 1969 November 22 - Skynet 1A.  Spacecraft: NATO 1. Mass: 243 kg (535 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Over Indian Ocean. Military communications. Previously registered by the United States in A/AC.105/INF.220: 1969-101A, orbital data 276 x 36716 km x 28.0 deg, category C. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean at 41 deg E in 1969-1972?; ??? 1972-1977; over the Americas at 100-110 deg W in 1977-1998 As of 26 August 2001 located at 104.51 deg W drifting at 0.015 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 106.94W drifting at 0.015W degrees per day.

  • 1970 August 19 - Skynet 1B.  Spacecraft: NATO 1. Mass: 243 kg (535 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    AKM failure left in unusable orbit. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).

  • 1974 January 19 - Skynet 2A.  Spacecraft: Skynet. Mass: 129 kg (284 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Partial Failure. Failed to reach planned orbit.

  • 1974 November 23 - Skynet 2B.  Spacecraft: Skynet. Mass: 129 kg (284 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Military communications. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean at 50-55 deg E in 1975-1977; drifting As of 3 September 2001 located at 18.23 deg E drifting at 0.206 deg W per day. As of 2007 Feb 27 located at 54.93E drifting at 0.393E degrees per day.

  • 1988 December 11 - Skynet 4B.  Spacecraft: ECS/OTS. Mass: 1,433 kg (3,159 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.

    British military communications; 1 deg W. Military communications. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 1 deg W in 1989-1990; 53 deg E in 1990-1998 As of 4 September 2001 located at 60.05 deg E drifting at 2.136 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 126.32E drifting at 2.116W degrees per day.

  • 1990 January 1 - Skynet 4A.  Spacecraft: ECS/OTS. Mass: 1,463 kg (3,225 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Titan.

    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.

  • 1990 August 30 - Skynet 4C.  Spacecraft: ECS/OTS. Mass: 1,463 kg (3,225 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.

    UK military communications; 1 deg W. United Kingdom military communications satellite. Owner/operator: UK Ministry of Defence. Expected operational life 10 years. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 1 deg W in 1990-1999 As of 3 September 2001 located at 0.97 deg W drifting at 0.002 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 1.27W drifting at 0.000W degrees per day.

  • 1998 January 10 - Skynet 4D.  Spacecraft: ECS/OTS. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta.

    Geostationary at 52.8 degrees E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 53 deg E in 1998-1999; moving As of 4 September 2001 located at 34.00 deg W drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 34.33W drifting at 0.016W degrees per day.

  • 1999 February 26 - Skynet 4E.  Spacecraft: ECS/OTS. Mass: 1,490 kg (3,280 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.

    Skynet 4E was a SHF/UHF military communications satellite for the UK Ministry of Defense. Dry mass was 759 kg; it used a Thiokol Star 30 solid apogee motor. Stationed at 53 deg E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 53 deg E in 1999. As of 5 September 2001 located at 52.91 deg E drifting at 0.000 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 53.02E drifting at 0.005E degrees per day.

  • 2001 February 7 - Skynet 4F.  Spacecraft: ECS/OTS. Mass: 2,596 kg (5,723 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane.

    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.

  • 2007 March 11 - Skynet 5A.  Spacecraft: Eurostar 3000. Mass: 4,635 kg (10,218 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5.

    Skynet 5A was launched by Paradigm Secure Communications as part of its turnkey contract to provide a secure communications satellite network to the British military and NATO.

  • 2007 November 14 - Skynet 5B.  Spacecraft: Eurostar 3000. Mass: 4,635 kg (10,218 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5.

    Skynet 5B was designed to provide communications services in the SHF and UHF bands to the UK Ministry of Defence.


Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.

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