| Mission type | Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Operator | Hisdesat,XTAR |
| COSPAR ID | 2006-007A |
| SATCATno. | 28945 |
| Mission duration | Planned 15 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | SSL 1300 |
| Manufacturer | Space Systems/Loral |
| Launch mass | 3,683 kg (8,120 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1,467 kg (3,234 lb) |
| Power | 5773 W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11 March 2006, 22:33GMT |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA |
| Launch site | Guiana Space CentreELA-3 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geosynchronous |
| Longitude | 30°West |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 12X band and 1K band |
| Coverage area | North America,South America,Middle East,Africa, Europe,Atlantic Ocean |
Spainsat is a Spanish telecommunications satellite used formilitary andgovernment communications. It allows telecommunications the different missions of theSpanish Armed forces abroad by providing coverage on a wide area of the world ranging from the United States andSouth America to theMiddle East, includingAfrica and Europe.[1]
The satellite belongs toHisdesat (Spanish company participated byHispasat (43%), Ingeniería y Servicios Aeroespaciales (30%),Airbus (15%),Indra Espacio (7%) andSener (5%)), and its initial investment was 415 million euros. It was built bySpace Systems Loral inCalifornia United States, with an expected useful life of at least 15 years. Its takeoff mass was about 3,700 kilograms. It is instrumented with several transponders in the X band and one in the K military band. It is situated on ageostationary orbit at 36,000kilometres ofaltitude, 30 degreeswest, over theAtlantic Ocean.
The satellite provides coverage to humanitarian, security and intelligence missions as well as to military operations, image transfers, embassy services and Spanish governmental communications.
The satellite was launched on 11 March 2006 at 22:33GMT from theGuiana Space Centre inKourou,French Guiana, by anAriane 5 ECA rocket ofArianespace.[2]
