TerreStar-1
| Operator | TerreStar Corporation |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | Space Systems Loral Arianespace (LSP) |
| Bus | LS-1300S |
| Mission type | Communications |
| Launch date | 2009-07-01 17:52 GMT |
| Carrier rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Mass | 6,910 kilograms (15,200 lb) |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Orbital period | 24 hours |
| Longitude | 111° West |
| Transponders | |
| Transponders | E/F-band |
| Coverage area | Canada United States |
TerreStar-1 is an American communications satellite which was operated by TerreStar Corporation. It was constructed by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300S bus, and carries E/F band (IEEE S band) transponders which will be used to provide mobile communications to North America. The signals are transmitted by an 18-metre (59 ft) reflector on the satellite.[1] It had a launch mass of 6,910 kilograms (15,200 lb),[2] making it the most massive single satellite launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and the largest commercial communications satellite ever built at the time of its launch,[3] surpassing the previous two records, both set by ICO G-1 in 2008. Terrestar-1 has since been surpassed in size by the launch of SkyTerra in November 2010, formerly known as Mobile Satellite Ventures.
TerreStar was launched at 17:52 GMT on 2009-07-01,[4] during a two-hour launch window that opened at 16:13.[5] The launch occurred towards the end of the window due to bad weather in the first hour, followed by two aborted countdowns for launch attempts scheduled at 17:12 and 17:34. The launch was conducted by Arianespace, and used an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, flying from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre. After launch, the satellite separated from the carrier rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It will subsequently raise itself into geostationary orbit by means of its onboard propulsion system. It will be positioned at 111° West longitude, and is expected to operate for 15 years.[2] A second satellite, TerreStar-2, is currently under construction and will be used as a ground spare per the Federal Communications Commission guidelines.[2]
Following TerreStar's file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a movement had been formed by the NGO A Human Right to purchase TerreStar-1 and to use it to provide free basic Internet access to developing countries. The team was looking for $150,000 USD in donations to put the first phase of their plan into action.[4] However after successfully bidding $1.375 billion for the acquisition of the TerreStar-1 satellite in a bankruptcy-court auction[6] Dish Network on August 22, 2011 asked the Federal Communications Commission to let the company use the wireless spectrum of TerreStar to offer its own wireless broadband service.[7]
References [edit]
- ^ Bergin, Chris (2009-07-01). "LIVE: Ariane 5 ECA launches with the giant TerreStar-1 satellite". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ a b c Krebs, Gunter. "TerreStar 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ "Integration of Ariane 5 is completed for its upcoming heavy-lift launch with TerreStar-1". Arianespace. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ a b "A new generation for mobile satellite communications". Spaceflight Now. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ "Ariane 5 soars to another heavy-lift success in lofting the TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite". Arianespace. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ "Bankruptcy court OKs Dish Network’s buy of TerreStar". Denver Business Journal. 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
- ^ "Boeing 787 nears debut". The Sun News. 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
External links [edit]
- TerreStar Corporation
- TerreStar Networks
- NSSDC SPACEWARN Bulletin - TerreStar 1 - 2009-035A
- Buy This Satellite Project
- A Human Right
