NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Inmarsat 4F-2

Launch Time
Tue Nov 08, 2005 14:06 UTC

Rocket

Zenit-3 SL
Image Credit: Sea Launch
Sea Launch
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 7,257 kN
Payload to LEO: 13,740 kg
Payload to GTO: 6,000 kg
Stages: 3
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 59.46 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.1 m
Fairing Height: 10.4 m

Mission Details

Inmarsat 4F-2

Inmarsat-4 is the fourth generation of satellites for the London-based global mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat.

Designed to be around 100 times more powerful than the present generation and to provide a ten-fold increase in communications capacity, the satellites will support the new Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN), to be introduced in 2004 for internet and intranet solutions, video on demand, video-conferencing, fax, e-mail, telephone and high-speed LAN access. Two of the satellites were launched in 2005 while the third remained on the ground as a spare until 2008, when it also was launched.

As prime contractor, Astrium delivered both the platform (based on the high-power Eurostar-3000GM version of Astrium's Eurostar series) and the payload, including the on-board processor.

In addition On Inmarsat-4 F3, a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) navigation package operating in C-band for uplink and L-band for downlink provides precision Global Positioning System-based guidance information to aircraft at thousands of airports and landing strips that lack such a capability today.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 5,959.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit

Location

LP Odyssey, Kiritimati Launch Area, Pacific Ocean

Stats

2005

48th orbital launch attempt

Zenit

54th mission
4th mission of 2005
43rd successful mission
4th consecutive successful mission