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Italsat 1, 2
Italsat 1 [Alenia]
Italy's first operational communications satellite was launched 15 January 1991 by an Ariane-44L H10 booster. Developed by a contractor team led by Alenia Spazio, Italsat carries ten active transponders plus five spares for 30/20 GHz and 50/40 GHz links with a capacity of 12,000 telephone circuits. The 900 kg (on-station) spacecraft consists of a rectangular bus 2.3 m by 2.7 m by 3.5 m and two solar panels with a total span of 21.8 m and more than 1.5 kW power. The design life for the first test vehicle is only five years, increased to 8 for the second Italsat. Italsat 2 was launched in 1996 by a Ariane-44L H10-3. It also carries ESA's first European Mobile Services (EMS) payload. Italsat 2 was undergoing environmental testing in France in late 1994. Italsat 1 is stationed at 13.2 degrees E, also be the home of Italsat 2.
The satellites were moved to graveyard orbits in January 2001 and July 2002 respectively.
| Nation: | Italy |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communication |
| Operator: | |
| Contractors: | Alenia Spazio |
| Equipment: | 9 (+6) Ka-band transponders (both), Ka-band propagation beacon (#1), L-band, Ku-band transponder |
| Configuration: | GeoBus (Italsat Bus) |
| Propulsion: | R-4D-11 |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 6 years (#1), 8 years (#2) |
| Mass: | 1850 kg (#1), 1983 kg (#2) |
| Orbit: | GEO |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italsat 1 | 1991-003A | 15.01.1991 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44L H10 | with Eutelsat-2 F2 | |
| Italsat 2 | 1996-044A | 08.08.1996 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44L H10-3 | with Télécom 2D |
