The Chronology of IOT at COMSAT


COMSAT had the mission to create the global telecommunications satellite systems which are now INTELSAT and Inmarsat.
As part of that mission we had to test those satellites once they reached orbit.  Here is an early chronology ...
 
 
Name Int'l Desig. Date Site Vehicle Orbit Mass(kg) Notes
Intelsat 1 (Early Bird) 1965-028A 4/6/65 ESMC Delta D GEO 39 Over Atlantic
Intelsat 2A 1966-096A 10/26/66 ESMC Delta E HEO 140 Unusableorbit due to AKM failure
Intelsat 2B (Pacific 1) 1967-001A 1/11/67 ESMC Delta E GEO 87
Intelsat 2C (Atlantic 2) 1967-026A 3/23/67 ESMC Delta E GEO 192 Over Atlantic
Intelsat 2D (Pacific 2) 1967-094A 9/28/67 ESMC Delta E GEO 87
Intelsat 3 F-1 none 9/18/68 ESMC Delta M FTO 293 Control system failure; destroyed by range safety
Intelsat 3 F-2 1968-116A 12/19/68 ESMC Delta M GEO 293 OverBrazil
Intelsat 3 F-3 1969-011A 2/6/69 ESMC Delta M GEO 293 63 degE
Intelsat 3 F-4 1969-045A 5/22/69 ESMC Delta M GEO 293 174 degE
Intelsat 3 F-5 1969-064A 7/26/69 ESMC Delta M LEO 269 3rd stagefailure; left in unusable orbit
Intelsat 3 F-6 1970-003A 1/15/70 ESMC Delta M GEO 293 336 degE
Intelsat 3 F-7 1970-032A 4/23/70 ESMC Delta M GEO 293 341 degE
Intelsat 3 F-8 1970-055A 7/23/70 ESMC Delta M HEO 270 Unusableorbit
Intelsat 4 F-2 1971-006A 1/26/71 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 706 24.5 deg W
Intelsat 4 F-3 1971-116A 12/20/71 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1410 Over Atlantic
Intelsat 4 F-4 1972-003A 1/23/72 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1410 Over Pacific
Intelsat 4 F-5 1972-041A 6/13/72 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1410 Over Indian Ocean
Intelsat 4 F-7 1973-058A 8/23/73 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1410 Over Atlantic Ocean
Intelsat 4 F-8 1974-093A 11/21/74 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1410
Intelsat 4 F-6 none 2/20/75 ESMC Atlas Centaur FTO 1410
Intelsat 4 F-1 1975-042A 5/22/75 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 727
Intelsat 4A F-1 1975-091A 9/26/75 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1500
Intelsat 4A F-2 1976-010A 1/30/76 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1500
Marisat-A (1) 1976-017A 2/19/76 TBS Delta GEO TBS Comsat’s First Maritime Communications Satellite
Comstar-IA 1976-042A 5/13/76 TBS A-Centaur GEO TBS Comsat’s First Domestic Communications Satellite
Marisat-B 1976-053A 6/9/76 TBS Delta GEO TBS Comsat's Second Maritime Communications Satellite
Comstar-D-2 1976-073A 7/22/76 TBS A-Centaur GEO TBS Comsat’s Second Domestic Communications Satellite
Marisat-C 1976-101A 10/14/76 TBS Delta GEO TBS Comsat Third MaritimeCommunications Satellite
Intelsat 4A F-4 1977-041A 5/26/77 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1500
Intelsat 4A none 9/29/77 ESMC Atlas Centaur FTO 1500
Intelsat 4A F-3 1978-002A 1/7/78 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1511
Intelsat 4A F-6 1978-035A 3/31/78 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 826
SBS 1 TBS 15 November 1980 Cape Canaveral Delta 3914 GEO 550 HS 376 Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technologysuch as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Intelsat 5 F-2 1980-098A 12/6/80 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 2000
Intelsat 5 F-1 1981-050A 5/23/81 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1928
SBS 2 TBS 24 September 1981 Cape Canaveral Delta 3914 GEO 550 HS 376 Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technologysuch as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Intelsat 5 F-3 1981-119A 12/15/81 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1870
Intelsat 5 F-4 1982-017A 3/5/82 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1928
Intelsat 5 F-5 1982-097A 9/28/82 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 2000
SBS 3 TBS 11 November 1982 Cape Canaveral Shuttle GEO 1117 HS376 Deployed from STS-5 11/11/82. First Shuttle launch of a CommercialCommunications Satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applicationsand uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Intelsat 5 F-6 1983-047A 5/19/83 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1928
Intelsat 5 F-7 1983-105A 10/19/83 Kourou Ariane 1 GEO 1928
Intelsat 5 F-8 1984-023A 3/5/84 Kourou Ariane 1 GEO 1928
Intelsat 5 F-9 1984-057A 6/9/84 ESMC Atlas Centaur LEO 1091 Failure of Centaur upper stage left stranded in useless orbit
SBS 4 TBS 30 August 1984 Cape Canaveral Shuttle GEO 1117 HS376 Released from STS 41D 8/31/84; 101 deg W. Spacecraft engaged in practicalapplications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication(US Cat C).
Intelsat 5A F-10 1985-025A 3/22/85 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 2013
Intelsat 5A F-11 1985-055A 6/30/85 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1098
Intelsat 5A F-12 1985-087A 9/29/85 ESMC Atlas Centaur GEO 1096 Telephone communications; 31 deg E
Intelsat 5A F-14 none 5/30/86 Kourou Ariane 2 FTO 3rd stage failedto ignite; destroyed by range safety
Intelsat 5A F-13 1988-040A 5/17/88 Kourou Ariane 2 GEO 2013 Replaced Intelsat 5 F-3; 53 deg W
SBS 5 TBS 08 September 1988 Kourou Ariane 2/3 GEO 1241 HS 376 Stationed at 122 deg W.
Intelsat 5A F-15 1989-006A 1/27/89 Kourou Ariane 2 GEO 1977 International communications; 18 deg W
SBS 6 TBS 12 October 1990 Kourou Ariane 44L GEO 2478 HS 376 Stationed at 99 deg W. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration ofthe upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

 
 

EARLY BIRD I
(HS-303)
April 6, 1965 TAD Communications: First commercial satellite
launched by NASA for the COMSAT Corp. on
a reimbursable basis; up to 240 voice
channels, television or high speed data. Geostationary
orbit over about 27.5° west
longitude. (NON-NASA)
65-H-150 66-HC-32 65-HC-139

INTELSAT II
(HS-303A)
NON-NASA
Mission
Oct. 26, 1966 Delta
(DSV-3E)
Communications: Second Comsat Corp.
commercial satellite, NASA providing
reimbursable launch support. Apogee motor
nozzle blown off shortly after motor ignited.
Planned geostationary orbit not achieved;
Spacecraft orbit allows about 8 hrs. use per
day.
66-H-1377 66-H-1344 66-HC-1843

INTELSAT II-B
(HS-303A)
NON-NASA
Mission
Jan. 11, 1967 Delta
(DSV-3E)
Communications: Third Comsat commercial
satellite; NASA providing reimbursable launch
support. Capable of handling T.V. data
transmission or up to 240 voice channels; part
of capacity to be purchased by NASA for
Apollo support. Retromotor fired Jan. 14 to
place spacecraft in geostationary orbit about
176° East in the vicinity of the Marshall
Islands. One of four traveling wave tubes
failed.
67-H-48 67-HC-12

INTELSAT II-C
(HS-303A)
Mar. 23, 1967 Delta Communications: Fourth ComSat commercial
satellite similar to Intelsat II-B. Spacecraft in
geostationary orbit about 5° West over the
Atlantic Ocean.
67-H-270 67-HC-100 67-H-293 67-HC-101

INTELSAT II-D
(HS-303A)
NON-NASA
Mission
Sept. 28, 1967 Delta
(DSV-3E)
Communications: ComSat commercial
satellite, similar to Intelsats II-A, B, and C with
up to 240 voice channels; to supplement and
backup B over Pacific about 176°E. Provides
test of minimum angular separation of B and D
without intersatellite interference, NASA
cooperating in planning tests. Reimbursable
launch support.
67-H-1277 67-HC-458 67-H-1313 67-HC-516

INTELSAT III
F-1 NONNASA
Mission
Sept. 19, 1968 Delta Communications: Third generation ComSat
commercial satellite. Improved long-tank Thor
Delta destroyed itself one minute, eight
seconds into the mission. Control system
failure.
68-H-826 68-H-851 68-HC-565

INTELSAT III
F-2
Dec. 18, 1968 Delta Communications: ComSat commercial satellite
scheduled to be placed in commercial service
between the US and Puerto Rico.
68-H-1507 68-HC-806

INTELSAT III
F-3
Feb. 5, 1969 Delta Communications: 1200 2-way circuits for
voice, TV, and other commercial services;
geostationary orbit over Pacific at 175° east
long; expected lifetime 5 years.
69-H-227 69-HC-130 69-H-210 69-HC-128

INTELSAT III
F-4
May 21, 1969 Thor-Delta Global telecommunications satellite. 170° east
long.; over Pacific Ocean.
69-H-899 69-HC-485

INTELSAT III
F-5
July 26, 1969 Delta Global telecommunications satellite: To form
part of a global communication, commercial
satellite system. Spacecraft did not achieve
desired orbit due to third stage failure.
69-H-1047 69-HC-674 69-H-1241 69-HC-669

INTELSAT III
F-6 NON-NASA
Mission
Jan. 14, 1970 Delta Global telecommunications satellite. To form
part of a global communication, commercial
satellite system.
70-H-48 70-HC-40

INTELSAT III
F-7 NON-NASA
Mission
April 22, 1970 Delta Global Telecommunications Satellite: To form
part of a global communication, commercial
satellite system.
70-H-685 70-HC-513 70-H-727 70-HC-558

INTELSAT III
F-8 NON-NASA
Mission
July 23, 1970 Delta Global Telecommunications Satellite: Form
part of a global communication, commercial
satellite system. Last launch of the Intelsat III
series.
70-H-1689 70-HC-1168 70-H-1036 70-HC-753

INTELSAT IV
F-4
Jan. 22, 1972 A-Centaur Global commercial communications satellite
system (Comsat).
72-H-41 72-HC-29 72-H-75 72-HC-48

INTELSAT IV
F-4
Jan. 22, 1972 A-Centaur Global commercial communications satellite
system (Comsat).
72-H-41 72-HC-29 72-H-75 72-HC-48

INTELSAT IV
F-6
Feb. 20, 1975 A-Centaur Vehicle Failure-COMSAT Communications
Satellite.
75-H-113 75-HC-53 75-H-115 75-HC-55

Intelsat IV F-1
1975-042A
May 22, 1975 A-Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-Last of IV
series. Reimbursable.
75-H-984 75-HC-573 75-H-426 75-HC-256

Intelsat IVA F-1
1975-091A
Sept. 25, 1975 A-Centaur First in a series of improved COMSAT
Communications Satellites-Double the
capacity of previous Intelsats-Reimbursable.
75-H-984 75-HC-573 75-H-1003 75-HC-587

Intelsat IVA-F2
1976-010A
Jan. 29, 1976 A-Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
75-H-984 75-HC-573 76-H-76 76-HC-59
 
 

Intelsat IVA F-4
1977 041 A
May 26, 1977 A-Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable. PLANNED ORBIT NOT
ACHIEVED.
77-H-280 77-HC-163 77-H-298 77-HC-180

Intelsat IV-A D Sept. 29, 1977 A-Centaur Coms at Communic ations Satellite Vehicle
Failure-Reimbur sable. O RBIT NOT
AC HIEVED.
78-H-6 78-HC-7 77-H-631 77-HC-411

Intelsat IVA F-3
1978 002A
Jan. 7, 1978 A-Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
78-H-6 78-HC-7 78-H-5 78-HC-4

Intelsat IVA F-6
1978 035A
Mar. 31, 1978 A-Cenatur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
78-H-282 78-HC-220 78-H-181 78-HC-145

Comstar D-3
1978068A
June 29, 1978 A-Centaur Third in a series of domestic communications
satellites for Comsat-Reimbursable.
78-H-462 78-HC-390 78-H-464 78-HC-249

COMSTAR
D-4
Feb. 21, 1981 Atlas
Centaur
Comsat Domestic Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
81-H-170 81-H-163

INTELSAT V May 23, 1981 Atlas
Centaur
Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
81-H-91 81-HC-114 81-H-436 81-HC-402

SBS-2 Sept. 24, 1981 Delta Satellite Business Systems, Domestic
Communications Satellite-Reimbursable
81-HC-769 81-H-831 81-HC-735

INTELSAT V
F-3
Dec. 15, 1981 Atlas Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
81-H-995 81-HC-916 81-H-1013 81-HC-928

INTELSAT V-D Mar. 4, 1982 Atlas
Centaur
Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
82-H-147 82-H-146 82-HC-144

INTELSAT V-D Sept. 28, 1982 Atlas
Centaur
Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
82-H-555 82-HC-541 82-H-670 82-HC-584

Intelsat V-F
047A
May 19, 1983 A, Centaur Communications Satellite-Reimbursable 83-H-408 83-HC-338

Intelsat V-F9
1984 057A
Jun. 9, 1984 A/Centaur Communications Satellite-vehicle failed-
Reimbursable
84-H-236 84-H-287 84-HC-282
 

Intelsat-
V-A(F-10)
Mar. 22, 1985 A/Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
85-H-75 85-HC-58 85-H-106 85-HC-82

Intelsat VA
(F-11)
Jun. 30, 1985 A/Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
85-H-353 85-HC-320

Intelsat VA
(F-12)
Sep. 29, 1985 A/Centaur Comsat Communications Satellite-
Reimbursable
85-H-459 85-HC-416

STS-5 Nov. 11, 1982 Shuttle/
Columbia
Commander Vance Brand; Pilot Robert
Overmyer; Mission Specs. Joseph Allen and
William Lenoir. Two major payloads-SBS-C
and the Telesat E. Mission Duration: 122 hrs.
15 mins.
82-H-667 82-HC-582 82-H-761 82-HC-651

Lots to do still   -Steve


Steven L. Teller
President
COMSAT Legacy Project
19813 Leitersburg Pike
Suite 138
Hagerstown, Maryland 21742
Email: teller@comsatlegacy.com
Phone: (301) 892-6256
Fax: (651) 691-2940
Satlinks
Revised: Sun April 7 01:18:30 EST 2002