Telstar
Program: Telstar. Overview: Network of communications satellites, operated by AT&T Skynet, later Loral Skynet, Bedminster.
Major Events:

  • 1983 July 28 - Telstar 3A.  Spacecraft: HS 376. Mass: 625 kg (1,377 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta 3000.

    Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 96 deg W in 1983-1985; 105 deg W in 1985; 96 deg W in 1985-1994; 107 deg W in 1994; 20 deg E in 1995-1996 As of 5 September 2001 located at 143.88 deg W drifting at 2.714 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 158.94W drifting at 2.690W degrees per day.

  • 1984 August 30 - Telstar 3C.  Spacecraft: HS 376. Mass: 625 kg (1,377 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.

    Released from STS 41D 9/1/84; stationed at 125 deg W. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 86 deg W in 1984-1987; 85 deg W in 1987-1997; 97 deg W in 1997 As of 26 August 2001 located at 148.40 deg W drifting at 1.778 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 128.46W drifting at 1.794W degrees per day.

  • 1985 June 17 - Telstar 3D.  Spacecraft: HS 376. Mass: 630 kg (1,380 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.

    Released by STS 51G 19 June 1985; stationed at 76 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 125 deg W in 1985-1992; 123 deg W in 1992-1996; 120 deg W in 1996-1999 As of 31 August 2001 located at 16.95 deg W drifting at 1.400 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 6.47W drifting at 1.400W degrees per day.

  • 1993 December 16 - Telstar 401.  Spacecraft: AS 7000. Mass: 3,375 kg (7,440 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIAS.

    Stationed at 97 deg W. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with IFR trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 97 deg W in 1994-1997 As of 5 September 2001 located at 100.42 deg W drifting at 0.039 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 97.36W drifting at 0.024W degrees per day.

  • 1995 September 24 - Telstar 402R.  Spacecraft: AS 7000. Mass: 3,410 kg (7,510 lb). Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 42L.

    Direct TV for continental US. Stationed at 89.0 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 89 deg W in 1995-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 88.96 deg W drifting at 0.003 deg W per day. The Telstar 4 (former Telstar 402R) satellite suffered a power failure on September 19 2003 and was a total loss. It was part of AT&T's satellite fleet, later sold to Loral Skynet by 2003 in the process of being sold to Intelsat. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 116.15W drifting at 0.086W degrees per day.

  • 1997 May 24 - Telstar 5.  Spacecraft: FS-1300. Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01.

    Geosynchronous. Stationed over 97.0W Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 97 deg W in 1997-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 96.99 deg W drifting at 0.006 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 97.04W drifting at 0.005W degrees per day.

  • 1999 February 15 - Telstar 6.  Spacecraft: FS-1300. Mass: 3,700 kg (8,100 lb). Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01.

    Loral Skynet's Telstar 6 had a mixed C and Ku band communications payload. The Block DM3 upper stage released Telstar 6 in a 6638 km x 35,756 km x 17.4 degree geosynchronous transfer orbit. After the first burn of its on-board R-4D engine on February 18, Telstar 6 was in a 15,037 km x 35,800 km x 7.9 deg transfer orbit heading for its final geosynchronous slot at 93 deg W Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 93 deg W in 1999. As of 2 September 2001 located at 93.01 deg W drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 93.03W drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.

 
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