Spaceway-3
SPACEWAY-3 is a communications satellite which, as of August 2007, is undergoing on-orbit testing after its successful launch. The third satellite in the SPACEWAY series, it includes a Ka-band communications payload.[1] After testing it will be used by Hughes Network Systems to provide broadband Internet Protocol network service.
| Operator | Hughes |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2007-036A |
| SATCAT no. | 32018 |
| Mission duration | 12 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | BSS-702 |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Launch mass | 6,075 kilograms (13,393 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | August 14, 2007 |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 95° West |
| Transponders | |
| Frequency | 500 megahertz |
| Bandwidth | 10 Gbit/s |
Launch
SPACEWAY-3 was launched August 14, 2007 on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.[2] It lifted off at 23:44 GMT from Ariane Launch Complex 3 of the Guiana Space Centre. Five hours and 46 minutes later, signals from the spacecraft were successfully received at a ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa.[3]
In March 2007, shortly after the failure of a Sea Launch rocket launch in January, Hughes Network Systems switched launch of SPACEWAY-3 from a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket to an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.[4][5]
References
- "Launch Kit" (PDF). Arianespace. March 14, 2007.
- "Arianespace boosts SPACEWAY 3 and BSAT-3a into orbit". Arianespace. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19.
- "Boeing-Built Spaceway 3 Satellite Operational after Successful Launch". Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11.
- "Hughes Signs Contract with Arianespace to Launch SPACEWAY 3". Hughes. March 1, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007.
- "Hughes Network Systems Awards SPACEWAY 3 Launch Contract to Sea Launch Company". Hughes. December 8, 2005. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.