Spacenet 2, MARECS-2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

01:14:00

Saturday November 10, 1984

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Flight V11.

Spacenet 2

Wiki

Spacenet 1 to 3R were a series of hybrid C-/Ku-band satellites. The Spacenet satellites were built for Southern Pacific Communications (SPC), which was bought by GTE before the first Spacenet ever launched. The spacecraft were based on RCA's 3-axis stabilized AS-3000 bus. To help offset the loss of DFH-2A 4 and the delay in the DFH-3 program, China in late 1992 purchased the nearly 9-year-old Spacenet 1 from GTE. In 1993 the spacecraft, renamed Zhongxing 5 (ChinaSat 5), was moved to 115.5 degrees E. Following ChinaSat-7's launch failure, ChinaSat purchased a second in-orbit satellite (Spacenet-2) in 1997 and renamed it ChinaSat-5R.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,195 kilograms

MARECS 2

Wiki

The MARECS (Maritime European Communications satellite) satellites were members of Inmarsat's first generation global maritime communications network. The program began as the experimental Maritime Orbital Test Satellite (MAROTS) in 1973, but was subsequently changed to an operational system resulting in a name change, a satellite redesign, and delayed development. MARECS is operated by ESA for Inmarsat. Based on British Aerospace ECS platform. 3-axis stabilized to 0.2 deg (pitch, roll) using fully redundant momentum wheels, thrusters, and nutation dampers. Redundant sun sensors provide 0.04 deg knowledge. Two sun-tracking solar arrays provide 955 W (BOL) with 2 NiCd batteries for eclipse power. Hydrazine propulsion system for station-keeping. Three repeaters: shore-to-ship with 5 MHz bandwidth, ship-to-shore with 6 MHz bandwidth, shore-to-shore with 0.5 MHz bandwidth. These provide 35 two-way voice channels plus search and rescue capabilities. One 2 m diameter L-Band antenna and 2 horns (one transmit, one receive) for 4/6 GHz channels. All antennas have full Earth coverage.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,060 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 3

Active 1984 to 1989

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 49m

Payload to Orbit

GTO: 2,700 kg

Liftoff Thrust

5,100 Kilonewtons

Stages

3

Strap-ons

2

Launch Site

ELA-1

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

55 days 10 hours

Stats

Ariane 3


2nd

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1984

European Space Agency


3rd

Mission

4th

Mission of 1984

1984


114th

Orbital launch attempt