GeoEye-1 satellite

GeoEye-1 is a high-resolution earth observation satellite owned by GeoEye, which was launched in September 2008.

On December 1, 2004, General Dynamics C4 Systems announced it had been awarded a contract worth approximately $209 million to build the OrbView-5 satellite. Its sensor is designed by the ITT Corporation.

The satellite, now known as GeoEye-1, was originally scheduled for April 2008 but lost its 30-day launch slot to a U.S. government mission which had been delayed. It was rescheduled for launch August 22, 2008 from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Delta II launch vehicle. The launch was postponed to September 4, 2008, due to unavailability of the Big Crow telemetry-relay aircraft. It was delayed again to September 6 because Hurricane Hanna interfered with its launch crews.

The launch took place successfully on September 6, 2008 at 11:50:57 a.m. PDT (1850:57 UTC). The GeoEye-1 satellite separated successfully from its Delta II launch vehicle at 12:49 p.m. PDT (1949 UTC), 58 minutes and 56 seconds after launch.

Launch of the GeoEye-1 satellite

GeoEye-1 provides 41 cm (16 in) panchromatic and 1.65 m (5.4 ft) multispectral imagery in 15.2 km (9.4 mi) swaths. The spacecraft is intended for a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 684 km (425 mi) and an inclination of 98 degrees, with a 10:30 a.m. equator crossing time. GeoEye-1 can image up to 60 degrees off nadir. It is operated out of Dulles, Virginia.

At the time of its launch, GeoEye-1 was the world’s highest resolution commercial earth-imaging satellite. GeoEye-1 was manufactured in Gilbert, Arizona by General Dynamics and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The first image was returned on October 7, of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.

Google, which has its logo on the side of the rocket, has exclusive online mapping use of its data. While GeoEye-1 is capable of imagery with details the size of 41 cm (16 in), that resolution will only be available to the government. Google will have access to details of 50 cm (20 in). Prior maximum commercial imagery was 60 centimetres (24 in).

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Google both paid $502 million for the satellite and upgrades to GeoEye's four ground stations.

Specifications:

Mass at launch 1,955 kg (4,310 lb)
Bus mass 1,260 kg (2,800 lb)
Solar panels GaAs, 3862W at the end of the life.
Data Downlink 150 or 740 Mbps, X-Band.
Aperture 1.1 m (3.6 ft)
Focal length 13.3 m (44 ft)
Field of View more than 1.28°
Design lifetime 7 years in orbit, fully redundant.

Intelsat 1R Satellite

Intelsat 1R (formerly PAS-1R) is a communications satellite owned by Intelsat located at 45° W longitude, serving the Americas market.

PAS 1R (PanAmSat 1R) is an American geosynchronous communications spacecraft that was launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou at 01:07 UT. The 1,200 kg, 15 kW spacecraft carries 36 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders to provide direct-to-home (DTH) digital video and internet services to Europe and the Americas after parking over 45 deg-W longitude.

NORAD ID: 26608
Int'l Code: 2000-072A
Perigee: 35,791.7 km
Apogee: 35,796.4 km
Inclination: 0.0°
Period: 1,436.1 min
Launch date: November 16, 2000
Source: United States (US)
Comments: 36 C-band, 36 Ku-band; direct-to-home (DTH) digital video and Internet services; Americas, Caribbean, Europe, Africa.

Galaxy 16 satellite

Galaxy 16 is a C- and Ku-band satellite with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders to be delivered December 31, 2005

The spacecraft is a version of SS/L’s space-proven LS-1300 satellite platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. The geostationary LS-1300 has a designed service life of 15 years and maintains station-keeping and orbital stability by using bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems.

Galaxy 16, a high-power fixed satellite service (FSS) spacecraft built for PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA) by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), was successfully launched today at 12:50 a.m. PDT. The satellite was delivered into a geosynchronous transfer orbit aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned on the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Space Systems/Loral is a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NASDAQ: LORL).

"Galaxy 16 illustrates SS/L's expertise in developing cost-effective, high-utility FSS spacecraft for use by the world's largest communications carriers," said Patrick DeWitt, president, Space Systems/Loral. "With a cost-effective integration of advanced satellite features and high performance, space-proven technology, Galaxy 16 will provide PanAmSat with the ability to deliver highly competitive and reliable services to their customers."

Weighing in at 4,640 kg (10,229 pounds), Galaxy 16 is designed to provide over 10 kilowatts of power throughout its 15-year mission life. The satellite's communications payload carries 24 high-power Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders. From its orbital location at 99 degrees West longitude, Galaxy 16 will provide coverage for data and video services, including high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), across the entire United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, in addition to Canada and Mexico.

The satellite is the fourth spacecraft built for PanAmSat by SS/L. A fifth, Galaxy 18, is currently under construction at SS/L's facility in Palo Alto, Calif., scheduled for delivery in 2007.

Launch of Galaxy 16 - June 18, 2006

Nation:	USA
Type / Application:	Communication
Operator:	PanAmSat
Contractors:	Space Systems Loral (SSL)
Equipment:	24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders
Configuration:	LS-1300
Propulsion:	R-4D-11
Lifetime:	15 years
Mass:	4640 kg (#16); 4642 kg (#18)
Orbit:	GEO

Amazonas-1 Satellite - Telecommunications for Latin America

Launched in August 2004, Amazonas-1 provides a full range of telecommunications services to Brazil, North and South America, and a transatlantic link for Europe.

The first Amazonas Latin American satellite was the fifth satellite launched by Hispasat ad the third Eurostar E3000 satellite from Astrium. It operates from geostationary orbit, at the 61° West orbital position over the Amazon basin, and provides both fixed and broadcast communications services through 32 simultaneous operational transponders in Ku-band and 19 simultaneous operational transponders in C-band. The services offered include TV and radio broadcasting and distribution, voice and data corporate networks, telephony, broadband services and Internet access.

The spacecraft’s launch mass was 4,500 kg, its solar array span is 35 metres and the spacecraft power at end of life will be 9.5 kW. Amazonas-1 will be operational for more than 10 years.

Video of Amazonas 1

Satellite Name: Amazonas 1 (Amazonas)
Status: active
Position: 61 W
Norad: 28393
Cospar number: 2004-031A
Operator: Hispasat
Launch date: 2004-08-04
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome
Launch vehicle: Proton M
Launch mass (kg): 4545
Dry mass (kg): 2000
Manufacturer: EADS Astrium
Model (bus): Eurostar-3000S
Orbit: GEO
Expected lifetime: 15 yrs.
Call sign: S2622
Beacon(s):
Details:
36 Ku-band, 27 C-band transponders; North and South American continents; Spanish language; leak detected - may not have enough fuel for 15-year life.
Beams:

* C-band Americas Beam (active)
* Ku-band Brasil Beam (active)
* Ku-band Europe Beam (active)
* Ku-band North America Beam (active)
* Ku-band South America Beam (active)

Amazonas 1
SPACECRAFT
Int'l Designation		Scheduled
Owner / Sponsor	Amazonas (Embratel / Hispasat joint venture)
Mission	Telecommunications
Manufacturer / Model	Astrium		Eurostar 3000S
Launch Mass	4500 kg (9918 lbm)
Dimensions, stowed
Mission Orbit	GSO		61°W
Design Life
Power (EOL)
LAUNCH
Launch Vehicle Model
Date / Time (UTC)	Spring 2004
FINANCIAL
Satellite cost	€290 million