Intelsat III F-2
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | COMSAT for Intelsat |
| COSPAR ID | 1968-116A |
| SATCAT no. | 03623 |
| Mission duration | 5 years (planned) 1+1⁄2 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Intelsat III |
| Bus | Intelsat |
| Manufacturer | TRW |
| Launch mass | 293 kg |
| Dry mass | 151 kg |
| Power | 183 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 December 1968, 00:32:00 Cape Canaveral, LC-17A |
| Contractor | NASA |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | Mid-1971 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit (Now supersynchronous) |
| Longitude | 24.0° West |
| Transponders | |
| Capacity | 2 transponders |
| Coverage area | Global |
Intelsat III F-2 was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1968 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 24 degrees west for around eighteen months.[2]
Spacecraft
The second of eight
apogee motor for propulsion and was equipped with two transponders powered by body-mounted solar cells generating 183 watts of power.[2] It was designed for a five-year service life.[3]
Launch
The launch of Intelsat III F-2 made use of a
geosynchronous transfer orbit.[1] Intelsat III F-2 subsequently fired its apogee motor to achieve geostationary orbit. It was operated at a longitude of 24° west, over Brazil; however it ceased operations after only a year and a half in orbit, in mid-1971.[4]
Orbit
Intelsat III F-2 remains in a
orbital debris. As of 7 February 2014, it was in an orbit with a perigee of 38,438 km (23,884 mi), an apogee of 39,317 km (24,430 mi), inclination of 13.73° and an orbital period of 26.60 hours.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Intelsat 3". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 February 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Intelsat-3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Intelsat 3 Quicklook". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "INTELSAT 3-F2 Satellite details 1968-116A NORAD 3623". N2YO. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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