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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0105.PDF
INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE DIRECTORY Gstar GTE has been authorised by the US Federal Communications Commission to launch two Ku-band Gstar commu nications satellites in 1985. The craft will operate alongside three GTE Spacenet C/Ku-band communications satellites, providing voice, video, and data links via customised digital transmission networks. RCA is building four Gstar satellites. Payload 16 14/12GHz transponders Owner GTE Satellite Corporation Manufacturer RCA Astro-Electronics Orbit Geostationary Launch/location Gstar IB Apr 1985 Ariane/106°W 1A Dec 1985/Jan 1986 Ariane/ 103°W (1C December 1985 Shuttle reservation) Stabilisation 3-axis Power (start of life) 1 • 4kW Weight (in orbit) 760kg Design life 10 years Cost $100m+ (1981)—3 craft plus ground control Remarks Based on RCA Satcom bus. Spot beams provide coverage of Alaska and Hawaii. Insat India's Insat I is a unique three-in-one satellite combining telecommunications relay, direct broadcast, and weather imag ing functions in a single geostationary craft. The operational network comprises two satellites. Insat IA was abandoned in September 1982, five months after launch, when its attitude-control fuel was exhausted, partly because the asymmetric solar array failed to deploy. A third craft, Insat IC, was ordered to replace Insat IA. India plans to develop its own replace ment for the Insat I series. Insat II will have increased telecommunications capacity, but will retain the direct- broadcast capability. A test satellite will be launched in 1988/89. Payload 12 6/4GHz transponders 2 6/2-5GHz transponders (DBS) very-high-resolution radiometer (weather imaging) Owner Indian Department of Space Manufacturer Ford Aerospace Orbit Geostationary Launch/location/status Insat IA Apr 1982 Delta/74°E abandoned Sept 82 IB Aug 1983 Shuttle/94°E/ operational IC Jun 1986 Shuttle/to replace IA Stabilisation 3-axis Power (end of life) 0 • 9kW Weight (at launch) 1,090kg Design life 7 years Cost $130m—2 craft, 2 launches, plus ground station Remarks Very-high-resolution radiome ter provides visible-light and infrared weather images with 2-75km and 11km resolutions repectively—one full-Earth frame every 30min. Asymmetric solar array balanced by a solar sail. Intelsat IV/IVA The International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (Intelsat), with 109 member countries, owns and operates the largest series of communications satellites in the world—16—providing 60 per cent of all international links. A total of seven Intelsat IVs (out of eight built) were successfully launched between 1971 and 1975, of which two remain operational carrying domestic lease traffic. A further series of five improved Intelsat IVAs were successfully launched between 1975 and 1978, all of which remain operational. Payload IV 12 6/4GHz transponders IVA 20 6/4GHz transponders Owner Intelsat Manufacturer Hughes Aircraft Orbit Geostationary Launch/location Intelsat IV-F1 Fl May 1975 Atlas-Centaur/310°E F8 Nov 1974 Atlas-Centaur/359°E Intelsat IVA-F1 Fl Sep 1975 Atlas-Centaur/329°E F2 Jan 1976 Atlas-Centaur/356°E F3 Jan 1978 Atlas-Centaur/179°E F4 May 1977 Atlas-Centaur/338-5°E F5 Sep 1977 Launcher failure F6 Jan 1978 Atlas-Centaur/174°E Stabilisation Spin Power Weight (at launch) IV 1,420kg IVA 1,520kg Design life 7 years Remarks Intelsat IVA introduced multiple access and transmission capability. Intelsat V/VA Since 1981, Intelsat V craft have been replacing Intelsat IVs. The nine Intelsat Vs ordered have all been launched— Intelsat receiving $108 million in compen sation for the June 1984 loss of Intelsat V-F9 when its Atlas-Centaur launch vehi cle malfunctioned. A further series of six Intelsat VAs will be launched in 1985-86. India's Ford Aerospace-built Insat I is a three- purpose satellite— communications, direct-broadcast, and weather FLIGHT International, 12 January liteo 33
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