Encyclopedia entry

Sirius

Spacecraft · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Sirius Satellite Inc., USA. Geosynchronous communications satellite network.

Chronology

8 events

21:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L.

Sirius 2 - . Payload: Spacebus 3000B2. Mass: 2,930 kg (6,450 lb). Nation: Sweden. Agency: NSAB. Manufacturer: Cannes. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Spacebus 3000. USAF Sat Cat: 25049 . COSPAR: 1997-071A. Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Perigee: 35,781 km (22,233 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. Geosynchronous. Stationed over 4.8E Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 5 deg E in 1997-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 4.81 deg E drifting at 0.001 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 4.77E drifting at 0.004W degrees per day..

22:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L.

Sirius 3 - . Payload: Sirius 3. Mass: 2,800 kg (6,100 lb). Nation: Sweden. Agency: NSAB. Manufacturer: El Segundo. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: HS 376. USAF Sat Cat: 25492 . COSPAR: 1998-056B. Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,782 km (22,233 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Geostationary at 23.5 degrees E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 28 deg E in 1998-1999; 5 deg E in 2000.- As of 5 September 2001 located at 5.04 deg E drifting at 0.003 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 4.97E drifting at 0.000W degrees per day.

22:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/24. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2M.

Sirius 1 - . Payload: CD Radio 1. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Sirius. Manufacturer: Palo Alto. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: FS-1300. USAF Sat Cat: 26390 . COSPAR: 2000-035A. Apogee: 47,107 km (29,270 mi). Perigee: 24,465 km (15,201 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Digital Audio Radio Satellite, used for transmission of S-band radio broadcasts direct to receivers in cars in the United States. Sirius 1 was inserted into an initial 6,166 x 47110 km x 63.4 deg transfer orbit by the Proton-K's Blok DM3 upper stage. The satellite's R4D liquid apogee engine made several burns to raise the orbit to 24,388 x 47,097 km x 63.3 deg by July 8. This elliptical, inclined 24 hour orbit had a 24 hour period, designed to keep the satellite between longitude 60W and 140W, with apogee over the northern hemisphere. Stationed at 66 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 66 deg W in 2000. As of 6 September 2001 located at 65.59 deg W drifting at 0.015 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 65.37W drifting at 0.004E degrees per day.

09:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/23. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2M.

Sirius 2 - . Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Sirius. Manufacturer: Palo Alto. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: FS-1300. USAF Sat Cat: 26483 . COSPAR: 2000-051A. Apogee: 47,090 km (29,260 mi). Perigee: 24,480 km (15,210 mi). Inclination: 63.90 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min.
Sirius Radio's Sirius 2 was launched into a 144 x 168 km x 64.8 deg parking orbit. The Blok DM3 stage then made two burns to deliver Sirius 2 to an elliptical 6192 x 47057 km x 63.4 deg orbit. The was to provide digital radio broadcasts to mobile users in North America. Stationed at 64 deg W. As of 31 August 2001 located at 64.56 deg W drifting at 0.003 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 67.77W drifting at 0.049E degrees per day.

Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/23. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2M.

Sirius CD Radio 3 - . Payload: CD Radio 3. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Sirius. Manufacturer: Palo Alto. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: FS-1300. USAF Sat Cat: 26626 . COSPAR: 2000-077A. Apogee: 47,084 km (29,256 mi). Perigee: 24,485 km (15,214 mi). Inclination: 64.20 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min.
Direct Radio Broadcasting satellite. Launch delayed from early October due to delays in delivery of engines. Stationed at 66 deg W. The third Sirius digital radio broadcast satellite was a Loral FS-1300 series vehicle and was placed in an initial elliptical 63 degree orbit by the Proton upper stage. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 66 deg W in 2000. As of 30 August 2001 located at 64.69 deg W drifting at 0.027 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 65.64W drifting at 0.010E degrees per day.

22:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC200/39. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-M/Briz-M.

Sirius 4 - . Payload: A2100AX. Mass: 4,600 kg (10,100 lb). Nation: Sweden. Agency: ILS. Manufacturer: Lockheed. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: AS 2100. USAF Sat Cat: 32299 . COSPAR: 2007-057A. Apogee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,641 km (22,146 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,432.20 min.
Sirius 4 carried Ku-band and Ka-band communications payloads for Nordic, Baltic and East European communications. Three upper-stage burns placed Sirius 4 into a 6916 km x 35478 km x 17.4 deg geostationary transfer orbit. A series of maneuvers by the satellite using its own Leros engine maneuvered the satellite into geosynchronous orbit, stationed at 5 deg East.

19:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-M/Briz-M.

Sirius FM-5 - . Mass: 5,976 kg (13,174 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: ILS. Program: Sirius. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: FS-1300. USAF Sat Cat: 35493 . COSPAR: 2009-034A. Apogee: 35,795 km (22,241 mi). Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. Direct radio broadcast satellite for North America. 2900 kg dry mass..

18:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/24. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-M/Briz-M.

XM-5 - . Payload: Sirius XM-5. Mass: 5,983 kg (13,190 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Sirius. Program: XM. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: FS-1300. USAF Sat Cat: 37185 . COSPAR: 2010-053A. Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,784 km (22,235 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. Fifth direct-broadcast digital radio satellite in the Sirius constellation..