Superbird-A & DFS-1

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

22:37:00

Monday June 5, 1989

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Maiden flight of Ariane 44L. Flight V31.

Superbird-A

Wiki

Superbird-A, also identified as Superbird-1 before launch, was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace (now SSL MDA) on the SSL 1300 platform. It was originally ordered by Space Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It had a mixed Ku band, Ka band, and X band payload and operated on the 158°E longitude. It was ordered in 1985 along with Superbird-B, Superbird-A1, and Superbird-B1 on the very first order of the SSL 1300 platform. It was also the first satellite of SCC and the second commercial satellite of Japan after JCSAT-1. It was used for video distribution, news gathering, remote publishing, and high-definition TV service to the main islands of Japan and Okinawa.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

2,489 kilograms

DFS-1

Wiki

DFS-Kopernikus (meaning Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus) was the name of three geostationary satellites of Deutsche Bundespost and later Deutsche Telekom AG. They are no longer in use.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,416 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 44L

Active 1989 to 2003

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 3.8m

Height: 58.72m

Payload to Orbit

GTO: 4,720 kg

Liftoff Thrust

6,000 Kilonewtons

Stages

3

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

ELA-2

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

16 days

Stats

Ariane 4


4th

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1989

European Space Agency


22nd

Mission

4th

Mission of 1989

1989


41st

Orbital launch attempt