Spaceway-3

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Spaceway-3
Mission type Communication
Operator Hughes Network Systems
COSPAR ID 2007-036A
SATCAT no. 32018
Mission duration12 years (planned)
13 years (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
Bus BSS-702
Manufacturer Boeing
Launch mass6075 kg
Dry mass3655 kg
Power12800 watts
Start of mission
Launch date14 August 2007, 23:44:00 UTC
Rocket Ariane 5
Launch site Kourou, ELA-3
Contractor Arianespace
Entered serviceOctober 2007
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Geostationary orbit
Longitude 95.0° West
Transponders
Band Ka-band
Frequency500 MHz
Bandwidth10 Gbit/s
Coverage area North America
  Spaceway-2
 

Spaceway-3 is a communications satellite which was launched in August 2007. The third satellite in the Spaceway series, it includes a Ka-band communications payload. [1] It is used by Hughes Network Systems to provide broadband Internet Protocol network service.

Contents

History

In March 2007, shortly after the failure of a Sea Launch rocket launch in January 2007, Hughes Network Systems switched launch of Spaceway-3 from a Zenit-3SL rocket to an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. [2] [3]

Launch

Spaceway-3 was launched 14 August 2007 on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle with BSAT-3a. [4] It lifted off at 23:44 UTC from ELA-3 of the Centre Spatial Guyanais. Five hours and 46 minutes later, signals from the spacecraft were successfully received at a ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa. [5]

See also

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References

  1. "Launch Kit" (PDF). Arianespace. 14 March 2007.
  2. "Hughes Signs Contract with Arianespace to Launch SPACEWAY 3". Hughes. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007.
  3. "Hughes Network Systems Awards SPACEWAY 3 Launch Contract to Sea Launch Company". Hughes. 8 December 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  4. "Arianespace boosts SPACEWAY 3 and BSAT-3a into orbit". Arianespace. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007.
  5. "Boeing-Built Spaceway 3 Satellite Operational after Successful Launch". Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008.