Encyclopedia entry

TVSAT

Spacecraft · Germany

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

West German communications satellite network

Chronology

2 events

02:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2.

TVSAT 1 - . Payload: TV-Sat 1. Mass: 2,077 kg (4,579 lb). Nation: Germany. Agency: Bundespost. Program: TVSAT. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Spacebus 300. Completed Operations Date: 1989-02-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 18570 . COSPAR: 1987-095A. Apogee: 36,151 km (22,463 mi). Perigee: 36,066 km (22,410 mi). Inclination: 4.30 deg. Period: 1,452.60 min.
West German communications; solar panel failed to deploy making spacecraft unusable. Because of a malfunction of the solar generator, the satellite is being used only for technical tests. Geostationary position 19 W. Launch by Ariane-2 flight no. 20. Due to a malfunction of the solar generator, TV-SAT 1 was taken out of commission and sen t to a so-called parking orbit beyond the geostationary orbit. Semi-major axis 42485.605 km. Eccentricity 0.00116. Inc 0.716, Arg of perigee 216.66, RA 76.77, Mean anomaly 47.1 Mean drift -4.071 deg/day, E long 350.617, latitude -0.713. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 18 deg W in 1988 As of 5 September 2001 located at 76.53 deg W drifting at 4.886 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 169.62W drifting at 4.874W degrees per day.

23:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44LP.

TVSAT 2 - . Mass: 2,130 kg (4,690 lb). Nation: Germany. Agency: Bundespost. Program: TVSAT. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Spacebus 300. Completed Operations Date: 1999-09-12 . USAF Sat Cat: 20168 . COSPAR: 1989-062A. Apogee: 35,951 km (22,338 mi). Perigee: 35,863 km (22,284 mi). Inclination: 3.30 deg. Period: 1,442.20 min.
TV services to West Germany; 19 deg W. Direct broadcasting satellite. Position 19 deg W. Ariane 4, flight no 33. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 19 deg W in 1989-1995; 1 deg W in 1995-1998; 12 deg W in 1998-1999 As of 31 August 2001 located at 29.41 deg W drifting at 1.503 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 150.44E drifting at 1.494W degrees per day.