GStar-1, Télécom 1B

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

01:15:00

Wednesday May 8, 1985

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Flight V13.

GStar-1

Wiki

The GStar satellites form the Ku-band component of GTE's satellite fleet. The spacecraft were based on RCA's (later GE Astro's) AS-3000 three-axis stabilized bus. They featured a communication payload consisting of 16 active Ku-band transponders with 5 more as a reserve.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,270 kilograms

Télécom 1B

Wiki

The first Telecom spacecraft, Telecom 1A, was launched by an Ariane booster on 4 August 1984. Operated by France Telecom under government sponsorship, Telecom satellites service both civilian and military users through twelve active and five reserve transponders operating at 6/4 GHz (four transponders), 14/12 GHz (six transponders), and 8/7 GHz (two X-band transponders). The last units provide the Syracuse (Systeme de Radio Communications Utilisant un Satellite) secure military channels for the French Ministry of Defense. Telecom 1 satellites were designed and manufactured by Matra with the communications package supplied by Alcatel Espace. At the start of its 7-year design life, each Telecom 1 had a mass of approximately 700 kg and an initial electrical power capacity of 1.2 kW, supplied by two narrow solar arrays with a total span of 16 m. The spacecraft bus was derived from the earlier ECS program in which Matra was a subcontractor to British Aerospace. A total of three Telecom 1 satellites were launched (1984, 1985, 1988). Only Telecom 1C remained operational at the end of 1994 and was stationed at 3 degrees E after being moved from 5 degrees W in the Fall of 1992.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

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


4th

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1985

European Space Agency


5th

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1985

1985


36th

Orbital launch attempt