Manufacturer | Hughes Aircraft Company |
---|---|
Specifications | |
Spacecraft type | Satellite |
Dry mass | 146kg |
Power | 300 watt |
Dimensions | |
Length | 3.3m |
Diameter | 1.8m |
Capacity | |
Payload to {{{to}}} | |
Mass | 54 |
Production | |
Built | 8 |
Launched | 1970 |
Retired | 1977 |
This article needs additional citations for verification .(December 2008) |
In 1970, Hughes Aircraft Company (HAC) Space and Communications Group offered the first[ citation needed ] standardized satellite: the HS 333 design. A spinning satellite, it was based on previous one-design satellites like Intelsat I. HAC built eight of these 300 watt, 12 channel single antenna satellites between 1970 and 1977. [1]
The early satellites were designed with cylindrical bodies to maximize the size of the satellite that could fit inside of the rocket's nose cone or fairing which was also round. The early design satellites also relied on spinning at about 30 rpm for stability in orbit. The spinning satellite is a gyroscope.
Several parallel decks, including the top and bottom, were used to mount the propulsion, attitude control, communication, Telemetry & Command (T&C), and power equipment. The upper deck or top of the satellite contained the payload antenna and the T&C antenna.
The outer surface of the cylindrical body was covered with solar cells to generate power for operating the satellite's electrical equipment. Batteries provide power during an eclipse when the satellite is in the shadow of the Earth. The batteries are recharged by excess power from the solar array.
The HS 333 was 1.8 m (6 ft) in diameter and nominally 3.3 m (11 ft) high. The solar array and batteries provided sufficient power over the satellite's 7-year design life to power the 190 W payload and 233 W spacecraft equipment. The payload contributed 54 kg (119 lb) of the HS 333's 146 kg (542 lb) dry mass.
Eight HS-333 satellites were launched:
Satellite | Operator | Launch date (UTC) | Carrier rocket [2] | Mass | Longitude | Retirement | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anik A1 [3] | Telesat Canada [4] | 10 November 1972 01:14:03 [2] | Delta 1914 [4] | 560 kilograms (1,230 lb) [4] | |||
Anik A2 [3] | Telesat Canada [4] | 20 April 1973 23:47:03 [2] | Delta 1914 [4] | 560 kilograms (1,230 lb) [4] | |||
Westar 1 [3] | Western Union [5] | 13 April 1974 23:33:03 [2] | Delta 2914 [5] | 574 kilograms (1,265 lb) [5] | |||
Westar 2 [3] | Western Union [5] | 10 October 1974 23:53:00 [2] | Delta 2914 [5] | 574 kilograms (1,265 lb) [5] | |||
Anik A3 [3] | Telesat Canada [4] | 7 May 1975 23:35:26 [2] | Delta 2914 [4] | 560 kilograms (1,230 lb) [4] | |||
Palapa A1 [3] | Perumtel [6] | 8 July 1976 23:31 [2] | Delta 2914 [6] | 574 kilograms (1,265 lb) [6] | |||
Palapa A2 [3] | Perumtel [6] | 10 March 1977 23:16 [2] | Delta 2914 [6] | 574 kilograms (1,265 lb) [6] | |||
Westar 3 [3] | Western Union [5] | 20 August 1979 00:20 [2] | Delta 2914 [5] | 574 kilograms (1,265 lb) [5] | |||
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BSAT-1b was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-376 platform. It was originally ordered and operated by the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT). It was used as backup of BSAT-1a to broadcast television channels for NHK and WOWOW over Japan. It had a pure Ku band payload and operated on the 110°E longitude until it was replaced, along its twin BSAT-1a, by BSAT-3a.
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JCSAT-2A, known as JCSAT-8 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems on the BSS-601 platform. It has Ku-band and C-band payload and was used to replace JCSAT-2 at the 154° East longitude. It covers Japan, East Asia, Australia and Hawaii.
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JCSAT-4 was known as JCSAT-R until it was sold to INTELSAT in 2009. It is a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-601 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by JSAT Corporation, which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It has a mixed Ku-band and C-band payload and was used as an on orbit spare.
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JCSAT-1 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-393 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by Japan Communications Satellite Company (JCSAT), which later merged into the JSAT Corporation. It had a Ku-band payload and operated on the 150° East longitude until it was replaced by JCSAT-1B.
JCSAT-2 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-393 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by Japan Communications Satellite Company (JCSAT), which later merged into the JSAT Corporation. It had a Ku-band payload and operated on the 154° East longitude until it was replaced by JCSAT-2A.
The Boeing 376 is a communications satellite bus introduced in 1978 by Hughes Space and Communications Company. It was a spin-stabilized bus that the manufacturer claims was the first standardized platform.
SBS 2 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-376 platform. It was ordered by Satellite Business Systems, which later sold it to Hughes Communications. It had a Ku band payload and operated on the 117°W longitude.
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The Hughes 393 is a communications satellite bus introduced in 1985 by Hughes Space and Communications Company. It was a spin-stabilized bus that had twice as much power as the HS-376 platform.
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