Arabsat-1A

Arabsat-1A (Arabic: عربسات-A1‎)[1] was a Saudi Arabian communications satellite which was operated by Arab Satellite Communications Organization. It was used to provide communication services to the Arab States. It was constructed by Aérospatiale, based on the Spacebus 100 satellite bus, and carries two NATO E/F-band (IEEE S band) and 25 NATO G/H-Band (IEEE C band) transponders. At launch, it had a mass of 1,170 kilograms (2,580 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of seven years.[2]

Arabsat-1A
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorArabsat
COSPAR ID1985-015A
SATCAT no.15560
Mission duration7 years
Spacecraft properties
BusSpacebus 100
ManufacturerAérospatiale
Launch mass1170 kg
Dry mass532 kg
Start of mission
Launch date8 February 1985, 23:22:00 UTC
RocketAriane 3
Launch siteKourou, ELA-1
ContractorArianespace
End of mission
DeactivatedMarch 1992
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude19.0° East
Perigee altitude33911 km
Apogee altitude35849 km
Inclination0.2°
Period1390.1 minutes
Epoch8 February 1985
Transponders
Band2 S-band
25 C-Band
 

Arabsat-1A was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 3 rocket flying from ELA-1 at Kourou. The launch took place at 23:22:00 UTC on 8 February 1985.[3] It was the first Spacebus satellite to be launched. Immediately after launch, one of its solar panels failed to deploy, resulting in reduced performance. It was placed into a geosynchronous orbit at a longitude of 19.0° East.[4] Following a series of gyroscope malfunctions, it was retired from active service, and remained operational as a backup.[2][5] In September 1991, another problem developed with the spacecraft's attitude control system, and it began to drift eastward. It failed completely in March 1992.[6]

See also

References
  1. إنفجار الفضائيات العربية : الأبعاد و الأهداف و التأثيرات الثقافية - الأسد الأسد - Google Books (in Arabic)
  2. Krebs, Gunter. "Arabsat 1A, 1B, 1C / Insat 2DT". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  4. Wade, Mark. "Arabsat". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  5. Harland, David M; Lorenz, Ralph D. (2005). Space Systems Failures (2006 ed.). Chichester: Springer-Praxis. p. 221. ISBN 0-387-21519-0.
  6. "Arabsat 1A". TSE. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
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