| Names | ECS-3 European Communications Satellite-3 Eutelsat 3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | ESA / Eutelsat |
| Website | https://www.eutelsat.com/en/home.html |
| Mission duration | 7 years (planned) Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | ECS-3 |
| Spacecraft type | ECS |
| Bus | ECS-Bus |
| Manufacturer | British Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 1,158 kg (2,553 lb) [1] |
| Dry mass | 500 kg (1,100 lb) |
| Dimensions | 1.9 m x 1.4 m x 2.3 m Span on orbit: 13.8 m |
| Power | 1 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 September 1985, 23:26:00 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Ariane 3 (V15) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-1 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | Failed to orbit |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit (planned) |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 10° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 12 Ku-band |
| Bandwidth | 72 MHz |
| Coverage area | Europe, the Middle East and Africa |
Eutelsat I F-3, also known as European Communications Satellite 3 (ECS-3) is a decommissioned communications satellite operated by the European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (Eutelsat). Launched in 1985, it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 10° East. It was the third of five satellites launched to form the first-generation Eutelsat constellation.
History
The European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) has been servicing the European Economic Community (CEE) since 1977, being formally established by a multi-lateral agreement in 1985. In 1979, European Space Agency (ESA) agreed to design, build, and launch five ECS (European Communications Satellite) spacecraft to be assumed by Eutelsat after on-orbit testing.[1]
The Eutelsat I series of satellites was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the European Communications Satellite (ECS) programme. Once launched and checked out in a geostationary orbit over Europe, each satellite was handed to Eutelsat for commercial operations. Four Eutelsat I satellites were successfully launched between 1983 and 1988 (1983, 1984, 1987, and 1988). They served both public and private traffic, including telephone services, fax, data, land mobile service, and television and radio programming. Each had a design life of 7 years and a bandwidth of 72 MHz.[3] ECS-3 was lost in an Ariane 3 launch accident in 1985.
Satellite description
The ECS-3 spacecraft, had a mass at launch of 1,158 kg (2,553 lb).[3] Constructed by British Aerospace, it was designed to be operated for seven years and carried 12 Ku-band transponders, two of which were set aside as spares.[1] It also only had partial eclipse protection, requiring some channels to be turned off during eclipse periods around the spring and autumn equinoxes.[4] The satellite contained a Mage-2 solid rocket motor to perform orbit circularisation at apogee.[1]
Launch
ECS-3 was launched by Arianespace, using an Ariane 3 launch vehicle, flight number V15. The launch took place at 23:26:00 UTC on 12 September 1954, from ELA-1 at Centre Spatial Guyanais, at Kourou, French Guiana.[2] Successfully deployed into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), ECS-2 raised itself into an operational geostationary orbit using its apogee motor.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "ECS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (Eutelsat-1 F1, 2, 4, 5)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- 1 2 "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- 1 2 "Display: EUTELSAT 1 1983-058A". NASA. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - ↑ "Eutelsat I F2". The Satellite Encyclopedia. Tag Broadcasting Services. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2021.