Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Tsiklon-3 | Strela-3 119 to 124
Yuzhnoye Design Bureau | UkrainePlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
June 15, 1998, 10:58 p.m.
Delta II | Thor III
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
June 10, 1998, 12:35 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
In November 1995, Hughes was awarded the contract for Thor 2, a high-powered version of Hughes' spin-stabilized HS-376 model. Thor 2 was successfully launched in May 1997. That same month, Telenor announced the award of a follow-on contract to Hughes for a second high-powered HS-376HP satellite, Thor 3, which was successfully launched in June 1998.
Geostationary Orbit
Space Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-91
National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of AmericaKennedy Space Center, FL, USA
June 2, 1998, 10:06 p.m.
Long March 3B | Zhongwei 1
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaXichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
May 30, 1998, 10 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Zhongwei 1 (Chinastar 1) satellite, an A2100A class comsat built by Lockheed Martin for the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Co., part of the Chinese telecoms ministry. Zhongwei 1 will serve China, India, Korea and southeast Asia with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. It was orbited on a CZ-3B launch vehicle using a supersynchronous transfer orbit.
Geostationary Orbit
Delta II | Iridium 70, 72 to 75
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
May 17, 1998, 9:16 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Iridium provides global mobile telecommunications services using a constellation of 66 low earth orbit satellites in a 86.4° inclined orbit. Although 77 satellites were originally envisioned for the system and spawned the name based on the 77th element in the periodic table, the system has been scaled back. Motorola's Satellite Communications Group designed and manufactured the Iridium satellites with Lockheed Martin providing the LM-700A spacecraft buses.
Low Earth Orbit
Soyuz U | Progress M-39
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 14, 1998, 10:12 p.m.
Titan II SLV | NOAA 15
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
May 13, 1998, 3:52 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The NOAA K, L and M POES satellites begin the fifth generation of improved environmental monitoring in support of NOAA missions. The instrument payload has significant improvements and additions/deletions. The instrument changes have effected the spacecraft subsystems and data formats.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Titan IVB | NROL-6
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
May 9, 1998, 1:38 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Orion 3 and 4 (RIO 3, 4) satellites, which are generally known as 'Advanced Orion' or 'Mentor', are geostationary signals intelligence satellites, which replaced the Magnum / Orion series. Their purpose is to intercept missile telemetry from Russia and China and the COMINT capability of the Mercury satellites was merged into this series. These satellites are launched under the designation Program 7600.
Geostationary Orbit
Proton-K/DM-2M | Echostar IV
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 7, 1998, 11:45 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Echsostar 4 should have replaced EchoStar 1 at 119°W which would then have moved to 148°W (where only 24 transponders have been granted to EchoStar). After launch, the satellite has experienced anomalies in connection with solar panel deployment (two of five panels on one solar array have not unfolded). Therfore several transponders are not operational, so EchoStar 4 did not replace EchoStar 1. In Jul 1999 further anomalies with thermal control and fuel systems were reported. Only 16 transponders are reported to be operational. EchoStar has filled for constructive total loss of the satellite, which was insured for $220 million. In Jun 1999 the FCC approved a move request to 110°W to allow EchoStar to start broadcasting from there. Earlier the FCC granted to transfer of the 110°W licence of MCI to EchoStar. During May 1999, EchoStar IV experienced anomalies affecting transponders, heating systems and the fuel system. In July 1999, additional fuel system anomalies were confirmed. By 31 October 2000, a total of 26 transponders of 44 aboard failed and by 30 June 2002, 38 transponders had failed. Only six transponders were available for use at this time. Currently the satellite functions as an in-orbit spare. In September 2004, the jammed solar array deployed spontaneously.
Geostationary OrbitMolniya-M | US-K 79
Russian Space Forces | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
May 7, 1998, 8:53 a.m.
