Thaicom 5
| Operator | Shin Satellite Thaicom |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | Alcatel Alenia Space Arianespace (LSP) |
| Bus | Spacebus 3000A |
| Mission type | Communication |
| Launch date | 27 May 2006 21:09 GMT |
| Carrier rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) |
| COSPAR ID | 2006-020B |
| Mass | 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb) |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Inclination | 0° |
| Apoapsis | 35,796 kilometres (22,243 mi) |
| Periapsis | 35,777 kilometres (22,231 mi) |
| Orbital period | 24 hours |
| Longitude | 78.5° East |
| Transponders | |
| Transponders | 25 G/H band 14 J band |
Thaicom 5 is a Thai geostationary communications satellite which is operated by Thaicom, and previously Shin Satellite. It is used to provide communications services to Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia.[1]
Thaicom 5 was constructed by Alcatel Alenia Space, and is based on the Spacebus 3000A satellite bus, with a configuration identical to the Thaicom 3 satellite which it replaced. It was originally ordered as Thaicom 4, but sold to Agrani as Agrani 2 before completion. It was completed in 1997, and stored until June 2005 when it was cancelled and sold back to Shin Satellite as Thaicom 5. It is equipped with 25 G/H band (IEEE C band) and 14 J band (IEEE Ku band) transponders, and at launch it had a mass of 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of 12 years.[2][3]
The satellite was launched on an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, contracted by Arianespace, flying from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre. The launch occurred at 21:09 GMT on 27 May 2006, and placed Thaicom 5, along with the Mexican Satmex 6 spacecraft, into geosynchronous transfer orbit.[4] At the time, this was the heaviest dual-satellite payload ever launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit,[5], however this record has since been broken.
Following launch, Thaicom 5 raised itself into geostationary orbit using an S400 engine, with insertion occurring on 3 June 2006.[6] It underwent on-orbit testing, and was positioned at a longitude of 78.5° East for operational service, where it replaced the failing Thaicom 3 satellite.[1] On 2 October 2006, after Thaicom 5 had become operational, Thaicom 3 was moved to a graveyard orbit.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Thaicom 5". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. http://www.thaicom.net/eng/satellite_thaicom5.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists. 2009-07-01. http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/space_weapons/technical_issues/ucs-satellite-database.html. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Thaicom 3, 5". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thaicom-3.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Launch Webcast. Arianespace. 2006-05-27.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/log/geo.date. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
