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AsiaSat 1

AsiaSat 1 [Boeing BSS]

Hughes' Space and Communications Group built three Hughes HS-376 model satellites, designated Westar 4, 5 and 6, for Western Union Telegraph Company. These new spacecraft stand 21.6 feet tall in operation and carry 24 C-band transponders, each of which can accommodate 2400 telephone calls or one color TV channel.

Westar 6 was launched from the space shuttle in February 1984. Its PAM-D misfired, however, and the satellite was stranded in a useless low orbit. It was retrieved by shuttle astronauts in November 1984, and Hughes was contracted to refurbish it. Westar 6 was eventually sold to the AsiaSat consortium and renamed AsiaSat 1. The spacecraft was successfully relaunched on 7 April 1990, on board a CZ-3 rocket, and now provides telecommunications services to a number of Asian nations.

The HS-376 series of spacecraft uses two telescoping cylindrical solar panels and a folding antenna for compactness during launch. Once the satellite is in synchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator, the antenna is erected and the outer solar panel extended, more than doubling the spacecraft's height and power output.

The spacecraft are 7.2 feet wide. They are 9 feet high in the stowed position, and with the 6-foot wide antenna erect and the aft solar panel deployed, they stand 21.6 feet high. Each weighs 1280 pounds at beginning of life in orbit. Stationkeeping is provided by four thrusters using 313 pounds of hydrazine propellant. The K-7 solar cells generate 935 Watts at beginning of life, and two nickel-cadmium batteries furnish full power during an eclipse.

The satellites are stabilized by spinning at 50 rpm. Both the communications antenna and electronics are despun with respect to the earth and achieve a pointing accuracy of better than 0.05 degrees. In synchronous orbit, the satellite's velocity maintains it in a fixed position relative to the earth, thereby ensuring continuity of communications services.

Nation: Hong Kong → China
Type / Application: Communication
Operator: Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company
Contractors: Hughes
Equipment: 24 C-band transponders
Configuration: HS-376
Propulsion: Star-30C
Power: Solar cells (body mounted and drop-skirt), batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: 1244 kg (582 kg BOL)
Orbit: GEO
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
AsiaSat 1 1990-030A 07.04.1990 Xi LC-3 CZ-3 relaunch of Westar 6

References:

  • Boeing Satellite Systems website
Further AsiaSat missions:

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