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Inmarsat-3 F1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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
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
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

References:

  • Inmarsat Website
Further Inmarsat missions:

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