Skynet 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F
Skynet 4A [Astrium]
Skynet 4 was the third generation of UK Ministry of Defense communications satellites. They provided jam-proof communications service between fixed and mobile land and sea-based ground stations. The payload housed one four-channel SHF transponder and one two-channel UHF transponder. An EHF transponder was available for propagation experiments on Skynet 4A. Built by British Aerospace, the satellite measured 2.1m by 1.4m. Solar arrays spanning 16m provided 1,200 W of power.
Skynet 4D, E and F are improved versions, featuring an enhance communication payload.
| Nation: | UK |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Military communication |
| Operator: | MoD |
| Contractors: | BAe → Matra Marconi → Astrium |
| Equipment: | 4 SHF transponders (all), 2 UHF transponders (all), 2 C-band transponders (#D-F) |
| Configuration: | ECS-Bus |
| Propulsion: | Star-30E |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 6 years |
| Mass: | 1250 kg (#A-C); 1500 kg (#D-F) |
| Orbit: | GEO |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skynet 4A | 01.01.1990 | CC LC-40 | Commercial-Titan-3 [PAM-D2] | with JCSat 2 | |
| Skynet 4B | 11.12.1988 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44LP H10 | with Astra 1A | |
| Skynet 4C | 30.08.1990 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44LP H10 | with Eutelsat-2 F1 | |
| Skynet 4D | 09.01.1998 | CC LC-17B | Delta-7925 | ||
| Skynet 4E | 26.02.1999 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44L H10-3 | with Arabsat 3A | |
| Skynet 4F | 07.02.2001 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44L H10-3 | with SICRAL 1 |
Further Skynet missions:
