| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Intelsat |
| COSPAR ID | 1990-056A[1] |
| SATCATno. | 20667[1] |
| Mission duration | 13 years (planned) 16 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | HS-389 |
| Manufacturer | Hughes[2] |
| Launch mass | 4,215 kilograms (9,292 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 June 1990, 11:19 (1990-06-23UTC11:19Z) UTC |
| Rocket | CT-III/Orbus-21S CT-3[3] |
| Launch site | Cape CanaveralLC-40[3] |
| Contractor | Martin Marietta |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | 6 April 2006 (2006-04-07) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Perigee altitude | 35,692 kilometres (22,178 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 35,887 kilometres (22,299 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 0.3 degrees[4] |
| Period | 1436.24 minutes[4] |
| Epoch | 26 July 1990[4] |
Intelsat 604, previously namedIntelsat VI F-4, was acommunications satellite operated byIntelsat. Launched in 1990, it was the third of fiveIntelsat VI satellites to be launched. The Intelsat VI series was constructed byHughes Aircraft, based on theHS-389satellite bus.[2]
Intelsat 604 was launched at 11:19 UTC on 23 June 1990, atop aCommercial Titan III carrier rocket, flight number CT-3, with anOrbus-21S upper stage.[2][3] The launch took place fromLaunch Complex 40 atCape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and successfully placed Intelsat 604 into ageosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into its finalgeostationary orbit using two liquid-fuelledR-4D-12 engines,[2] with the satellite arriving in geostationary orbit on 28 June 1990.[6]
Intelsat 604 initially operated in a geostationary orbit with aperigee of 35,692 kilometres (22,178 mi), anapogee of 35,887 kilometres (22,299 mi), and 0.3 degrees ofinclination,[4] however over time this became more inclined. The satellite carried 38 IEEEC band and ten IEEEKu bandtransponders, and had a design life of 13 years and a mass of 4,215 kilograms (9,292 lb).[2]
Following its arrival in geostationary orbit, Intelsat 604 was deployed at a longitude of 38 degrees west. It was moved to 27.5 degrees west in January 1991, where it operated until February 1992. From October 1992 to March 2002, it was operated at 60 degrees east. After leaving this position, it was positioned at 157 degrees east from August 2002 to September 2005. Its final deployment was from February to March 2006, at 177.85 degrees. The satellite was decommissioned on 6 April 2006 after it had been moved to agraveyard orbit.[7]
