Galaxy 4R

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

00:29:00

Wednesday April 19, 2000

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Flight V129.

Galaxy 4R

Wiki

Galaxy 4R was a communications satellite operated by PanAmSat from 2000 to 2006, and by Intelsat from 2006 to 2009. It spent most of its operational life at an orbital location of 99° W, a slot once occupied by the Galaxy IV, which suffered a failure in 1998. G4R was launched on April 18, 2000, with an Ariane launch vehicle, and covered North America with twenty-four transponders each on the C- and Ku bands. The satellite is currently at 76.8°W, inclined. Users included Warner Brothers, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Buena Vista Television Distribution, FOX, and Televisa. The satellite was also utilized for satellite internet services through DirecPC. Much of the Ku side was occupied by the HITS service, which re-distributes programming found on other satellites to cable providers. Designed for an operational lifespan of 15 years, Galaxy 4R suffered a propulsion system failure in 2003 and was replaced by Galaxy 16 on August 14, 2006. It was moved to 76.85 degrees west after being replaced and its orbit was allowed to become more inclined in order to save station-keeping propellant. The satellite was decommissioned in April 2009 and moved to a graveyard orbit.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,895 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 42L

Active 1993 to 2002

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 58.72m

Payload to Orbit

GTO: 3,480 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,538 Kilonewtons

Stages

3

Strap-ons

2

Launch Site

ELA-3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

24 days 3 hours

Stats

Ariane 4


96th

Mission

3rd

Mission of 2000

European Space Agency


117th

Mission

4th

Mission of 2000

2000


22nd

Orbital launch attempt