Telstar 301

Last updated
Telstar 301
NamesTelstar 301 (1983–1995)
Arabsat 1E (1995–1996)
Mission type Communication
Operator AT&T Corporation
Leased to Arabsat 1995–1996
COSPAR ID 1983-077A
SATCAT no. 14234
Mission duration10 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus HS-376
Manufacturer Hughes
Launch mass653 kilograms (1,440 lb)
Power917.0 watts
Start of mission
Launch date28 July 1983, 22:49 (1983-07-28UTC22:49Z) UTC
Rocket Delta 3920/PAM-D D171
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17A
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedSeptember 1996 (1996-10)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Perigee altitude 35,442 kilometres (22,023 mi)
Apogee altitude 36,132 kilometres (22,451 mi)
Inclination 0.1 degrees
Period 1436.11 minutes
Epoch 28 August 1983 [1]
 

Telstar 301 is an American communications satellite launched in July 1983 and operated by AT&T. It was one of three Telstar 3 satellites, followed by Telstar 302 in 1984 and Telstar 303 in 1985.

The satellite served as the east coast home satellite for the ABC network from 1984 to 1993. The CBS network also used the satellite from 1985 to 1993. It also served as the first home of Fox Broadcasting Company until the late 1980s.

Other entities that also used the satellite included Group W, Wold/Keystone Communications (which used the satellite to feed Paramount Television's syndicated output including Entertainment Tonight , Star Trek: The Next Generation , and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ), Compact Video, Lorimar-Telepictures, and Warner Bros. Television.

The satellite was retired in 1993 and replaced by Telstar 401. [2] As of June 2009, Telstar 301 (along with Telstar 302 and Telstar 303) was still in orbit.

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References

  1. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. "Telstar 401, 402, 402R".