NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Inmarsat-3 F2

Launch Time
Fri Sep 06, 1996 17:37 UTC

Rocket

Proton-K/Block-DM
Roscosmos
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 9,195 kN
Payload to LEO: 19,000 kg
Payload to GTO: 2,200 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 56.14 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.9 m
Fairing Height: 8.9 m

Mission Details

Inmarsat-3 F2

Launched in 1996-8, the Inmarsat-3s were built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space) of the USA, responsible for the basic spacecraft, and the European Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium), which developed the communications payload.

The Inmarsat I-3 communications payload can generate a global beam and a maximum of seven spotbeams. The spotbeams are directed as required to make extra communications capacity available in areas where demand from users is high.

Inmarsat I-3 F1 was launched in 1996 to cover the Indian Ocean Region. Over the next two years F2 entered service over Atlantic Ocean Region-East, followed by F3 (Pacific Ocean Region), F4 (Atlantic Ocean Region-West) and F5 (limited services on a single spot beam, back-up and leased capacity).

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 2,068.0 kg
Geostationary Earth Orbit

Location

Site 81/23, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Stats

1996

57th orbital launch attempt

Proton-K

238th mission
6th mission of 1996
209th successful mission
4th consecutive successful mission