 | This article needs to be updated.(June 2016) |
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | TerreStar Corporation |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-035A |
| SATCAT no. | 35496 |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | LS-1300S |
| Manufacturer | Space Systems Loral |
| Launch mass | 6,910 kilograms (15,230 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 July 2009, 17:52 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 111° West |
| Perigee altitude | 35,778 kilometers (22,231 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 35,806 kilometers (22,249 mi) |
| Inclination | 4.00 degrees |
| Period | 23.93 hours |
| Epoch | 21 January 2014, 09:03:45 UTC [1] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | E/F-band |
| Coverage area | Canada United States |
TerreStar-1 is an American communications satellite which was operated by TerreStar Corporation. It was constructed by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300S bus, and carries E/F band (IEEE S band) transponders which will be used to provide mobile communications to North America. The signals are transmitted by an 18-metre (59 ft) reflector on the satellite. [2] It had a launch mass of 6,910 kilograms (15,230 lb), [3] making it the second most massive single satellite launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and the second largest commercial communications satellite ever built. Its record as the most massive communication satellite was surpassed by Telstar 19V launched on Falcon 9 on July 21, 2018, with a mass of 7,076 kilograms (15,600 lb). [4]
TerreStar was launched at 17:52 GMT on July 1, 2009, [5] during a two-hour launch window that opened at 16:13. [6] The launch occurred towards the end of the window due to bad weather in the first hour, followed by two aborted countdowns for launch attempts scheduled at 17:12 and 17:34. The launch was conducted by Arianespace, and used an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, flying from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre. After launch, the satellite separated from the carrier rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It will subsequently raise itself into geostationary orbit by means of its onboard propulsion system. It will be positioned at 111° West longitude, and is expected to operate for 15 years. [3] A second satellite, TerreStar-2 (now EchoStar XXI), was launched on 2017, positioned at 10E, and owned by Echostar. [3]
Following TerreStar's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a movement had been formed by the NGO A Human Right to purchase TerreStar-1 and to use it to provide free basic Internet access to developing countries. The team was looking for US$150,000 in donations to put the first phase of their plan into action. [7] However, after successfully bidding $1.375 billion for the acquisition of the TerreStar-1 satellite in a bankruptcy-court auction [8] Dish Network on August 22, 2011 asked the Federal Communications Commission to let the company use the wireless spectrum of TerreStar to offer its own wireless broadband service. [9]
Despite its successful launch and groundbreaking achievements, TerreStar Corporation faced challenges and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In response, a movement led by the NGO A Human Right emerged, seeking to acquire TerreStar-1 and use it to provide free basic Internet access to developing countries. Their ambitious plan aimed to bridge the digital divide and connect underserved communities worldwide.[ citation needed ]
However, Dish Network outbid others in the bankruptcy-court auction, acquiring TerreStar-1 for $1.375 billion. With this acquisition, Dish Network sought to utilize the satellite's wireless spectrum to offer its own wireless broadband service.[ citation needed ]
