Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. It was designed to launch payloads into low earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. Sixty-three launches of the Atlas II, IIA and IIAS models were carried out between 1991 and 2004; all sixty-three launches were successes, making the Atlas II the most reliable launch system in history.
Lockheed Martin's Space Division started in the production of missiles and later ICBM's in the 1950s. Their TITAN missile system was used for 12 Gemini spacecraft and the Voyager probes. They have worked largely in collaboration with NASA on many of their probes, landers, and spacecraft, and hope to play a key role in NASA's return to the moon in 2024.
63rd and last flight of Atlas IIAS. 576th and final launch of Rocketdyne-powered Atlas rockets. Final launch from LC36A after 42 years of use. Launch delayed from June 24 and 25, July 1 and 27, August 27, 28, 29 and 30. The payload was probably a communications satellite used to relay data from imaging spy satellites.
Geostationary OrbitSUPERBIRD-6, slated for an orbital slot at 158.0 degrees East longitude, will provide business telecommunication services using a Japan Beam for Ku-Band and Ka-Band services along with a steerable spot beam for additional Ka-Band services.
Geostationary OrbitThese all C-band satellites with 24 active transponders, provide distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, telecommunications services, business television and broadband data distribution throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Geostationary OrbitThe primary purpose of the SDS satellites is to relay imagery from low-flying reconnaissance satellites, notably the Keyhole optical reconnaissance and Lacrosse/Onyx radar reconnaissance satellites to ground stations in the United States.
Geostationary OrbitNOSS-3 (Naval Ocean Surveillance System), which is likely not the official designation, is the third generation of NOSS satellites, which are low orbit SIGINT satellites. In 2013, the designation Intruder leaked out. These satellites carry equipment to track ships and aircraft via their radio transmissions. Positions of the origin of the transmissions are determined by triangulation. Each launch consists of two satellites of similar size in the same orbit. Both satellites maneuver to stationkeep relative to one another.
Low Earth OrbitSatellite Data System (SDS) spacecraft are communication relay satellites for transmitting real-time data from US reconnaissance satellites (e.g. KH-11, Onyx, Topaz) in polar areas. They are also used for communications to USAF aircraft on polar routes and connect the various ground stations of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The spacecraft relay the downlinked data to a ground station at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Geostationary OrbitHispasat 1C and 1D are powerful telecommunications satellite based on a Spacebus-3000B2 platform with 28 Ku-band channels built by Alcatel Space for the Spanish company HISPASAT S.A. They offer pan-European and pan-American multi-area coverage. This coverage can extend to certain areas of North Africa. The flexibility offered by the satellite's design will allow users to benefit from intercontinental links between Europe and the Americas.
Geostationary OrbitThe W satellites are designed to provide telecommunications services primarily over Europe (Eutelsat W2, W3 and W5) and communication services over Russia and Africa (W4). W2, W3 and W5 are designed to offer 24 transponders at saturation and W4 is designed to provide 31 transponders at saturation. The W satellites have a minimum operational lifetime of 12 years. The spacecraft are based on the Spacebus-3000B2 platform.
Geostationary OrbitThe Intelsat VIII-VIII/A series has been designed to meet the needs of Intelsat users throughout the system for improved C-band coverage and service. These spacecraft will incorporate six-fold C-band frequency reuse, two-fold frequency reuse of expanded C-band capacity, and the highest C-band power level ever for an Intelsat satellite. Consequently, Intelsat VIII will provide significantly more C-band capacity for public switched telephony and Intelsat Business Service, better quality for video services, and encourage new international VSAT applications.
Geostationary OrbitThe Intelsat VIII-VIII/A series has been designed to meet the needs of Intelsat users throughout the system for improved C-band coverage and service. These spacecraft will incorporate six-fold C-band frequency reuse, two-fold frequency reuse of expanded C-band capacity, and the highest C-band power level ever for an Intelsat satellite. Consequently, Intelsat VIII will provide significantly more C-band capacity for public switched telephony and Intelsat Business Service, better quality for video services, and encourage new international VSAT applications.
Geostationary OrbitGalaxy 8-i is one of the most powerful satellites to join PanAmSat Corporation's fleet of spacecraft, with nearly 10 kilowatts of power at beginning of life. It is a Hughes HS-601HP body-stabilized model built by Hughes Space and Communications Company in El Segundo, Calif.
Geostationary OrbitEchoStar 3 was originaly ordered as DBSC 1 by DBSC (Direct Broadcast Satellite Corporation) which merged with a subsidiary of EchoStar in late 1995. The merger was approved by the FCC in August 1996. EchoStar is only authorized to operate 11 transponders from 61.5°W but was granted in Mar 1998 a special authorization to use the full frequency space at that location.
Geostationary OrbitForeseeing the growth of the communications business, Japan Satellite Systems, Inc., (JSAT) of Tokyo signed a contract in October 1993 for a Hughes HS-601 satellite from Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc. The satellite, JCSAT-3, was designed to relay voice, data, and television signals via Ku-band to eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and India; and via C-band to eastern and southern Asia and Hawaii.
Geostationary Orbit