Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
23:11:00
Tuesday November 20, 1990
Maiden flight of Ariane 42P. Flight V40.
Satcom C1, also known as Advanced Satcom, were the second generation of geostationary comsats built for RCA Americom. This satellite was built by RCA Astro using their three-axis stabilized AS-3000 bus. They featured a 24 C-band transponder communications payload but with higher power than the first-generation Satcom series. The antenna design was changed to a single reflector. Lifetime was increased to 12 years.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
1 Payload
1,120 kilograms
GStar-4 is an American communications satellite. 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
Manufacturer
ESARocket
Diameter: 3.8m
Height: 58.72m
Payload to Orbit
GTO: 2,930 kg
Liftoff Thrust
4,334 Kilonewtons
Stages
3
Strap-ons
2
12th
Mission
6th
Mission of 1990
31st
Mission
6th
Mission of 1990
105th
Orbital launch attempt