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.
Spacecraft
The second of eight Intelsat III satellites to be launched, Intelsat III F-2 was built by TRW. It was a 293 kg spacecraft, with its mass reducing to 151 kg by entry into service as it burned propellant to reach its final orbit. The satellite carried an SVM-2 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 Delta M rocket flying from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch took place at 00:32 GMT on 19 December 1968, with the spacecraft entering 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 graveyard orbit as an orbital debris. As of 7 February 2014, it was in an orbit with a perigee of 38438 km, an apogee of 39317 km, inclination of 13.73° and an orbital period of 26.60 hours.[5]
See also
- 1968 in spaceflight
References
- Jonathan McDowell. Launch Log Jonathan's Space Page, retrieved February 9, 2014^
- Mark Wade. Intelsat 3 Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved February 9, 2014^
- Gunter Krebs. Intelsat-3 Gunter's Space Page, retrieved February 9, 2014^
- Intelsat 3 Quicklook Mission and Spacecraft Library, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, retrieved February 9, 2014^
- INTELSAT 3-F2 Satellite details 1968-116A NORAD 3623 N2YO, February 7, 2014, retrieved February 9, 2014^