Inmarsat-3 (I-3) [Lockheed Martin]
Launched in 1996-8, the Inmarsat-3s were built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space) of the USA, responsible for the basic spacecraft, and the European Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium), which developed the communications payload.
The Inmarsat I-3 communications payload can generate a global beam and a maximum of seven spotbeams. The spotbeams are directed as required to make extra communications capacity available in areas where demand from users is high.
Inmarsat I-3 F1 was launched in 1996 to cover the Indian Ocean Region. Over the next two years F2 entered service over Atlantic Ocean Region-East, followed by F3 (Pacific Ocean Region), F4 (Atlantic Ocean Region-West) and F5 (limited services on a single spot beam, back-up and leased capacity).
Inmarsat I-3 F2 was launched without apogee kick motor, as the Proton-K Blok-DM1 launch vehicle was capable of direct GSO injection.
Inmarsat-3 F4 was retired in 2016 and was moved into a graveyard orbit above the geostationary belt.
Nation: | International |
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Type / Application: | Communication |
Operator: | Inmarsat |
Contractors: | Lockheed Martin Astro |
Equipment: | 22 (+11) L-band transponders (22W Power amplifiers), C-band uplink |
Configuration: | AS-4000 |
Propulsion: | Star-37FM ? (except #2) |
Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
Lifetime: | 13 years |
Mass: | 2068 kg (#1, 3, 4, 5); |
Orbit: | GEO |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Inmarsat-3 F1 (Inmarsat I-3 F1) | 1996-020A | 03.04.1996 | CC LC-36A | Atlas-2A | ||
Inmarsat-3 F2 (Inmarsat I-3 F2) | 1996-053A | 06.09.1996 | Ba LC-81/23 | Proton-K Blok-DM1 | ||
Inmarsat-3 F3 (Inmarsat I-3 F3) | 1996-070A | 18.12.1996 | CC LC-36B | Atlas-2A | ||
Inmarsat-3 F4 (Inmarsat I-3 F4) | 1997-027A | 03.06.1997 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44L H10-3 | with Insat 2D | |
Inmarsat-3 F5 (Inmarsat I-3 F5) | 1998-006B | 04.02.1998 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44LP H10-3 | with Brasilsat B3 |