| Names | ECS-3 European Communications Satellite-3 Eutelsat 3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | ESA /Eutelsat |
| Website | https://www.eutelsat.com/en/home.html |
| Mission duration | 7 years (planned) Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | ECS-3 |
| Spacecraft type | ECS |
| Bus | ECS-Bus |
| Manufacturer | British Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 1,158 kg (2,553 lb)[1] |
| Dry mass | 500 kg (1,100 lb) |
| Dimensions | 1.9 m x 1.4 m x 2.3 m Span on orbit: 13.8 m |
| Power | 1kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 September 1985, 23:26:00UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Ariane 3 (V15) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais,ELA-1 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | Failed to orbit |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit (planned) |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 10° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 12Ku-band |
| Bandwidth | 72MHz |
| Coverage area | Europe, the Middle East and Africa |
Eutelsat I F-3, also known asEuropean Communications Satellite 3 (ECS-3) is a decommissionedcommunications satellite operated by theEuropean Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (Eutelsat). Launched in 1985, it was operated ingeostationary orbit at alongitude of 10° East. It was the third of five satellites launched to form the first-generation Eutelsat constellation.
TheEuropean Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) has been servicing theEuropean Economic Community (CEE) since 1977, being formally established by a multi-lateral agreement in 1985. In 1979,European Space Agency (ESA) agreed to design, build, and launch five ECS (European Communications Satellite) spacecraft to be assumed by Eutelsat after on-orbit testing.[1]
The Eutelsat I series of satellites was developed by theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) as part of the European Communications Satellite (ECS) programme. Once launched and checked out in a geostationary orbit overEurope, each satellite was handed to Eutelsat for commercial operations. Four Eutelsat I satellites were successfully launched between 1983 and 1988 (1983, 1984, 1987, and 1988). They served both public and private traffic, including telephone services, fax, data, land mobile service, and television and radio programming. Each had a design life of 7 years and a bandwidth of 72MHz.[3] ECS-3 was lost in anAriane 3 launch accident in 1985.
The ECS-3 spacecraft, had a mass at launch of 1,158 kg (2,553 lb).[3] Constructed byBritish Aerospace, it was designed to be operated for seven years and carried 12Ku-bandtransponders, two of which were set aside as spares.[1] It also only had partial eclipse protection, requiring some channels to be turned off during eclipse periods around the spring and autumn equinoxes.[4] The satellite contained aMage-2solid rocket motor to perform orbit circularisation atapogee.[1]
ECS-3 was launched byArianespace, using anAriane 3launch vehicle, flight number V15. The launch took place at 23:26:00UTC on 12 September 1985, fromELA-1 atCentre Spatial Guyanais, atKourou,French Guiana.[2] Successfully deployed intogeostationary transfer orbit (GTO), ECS-2 raised itself into an operational geostationary orbit using itsapogee motor.
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