| Manufacturer | Hughes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States | ||
| Operator | Intelsat | ||
| Applications | Communications | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Bus | HS-303A | ||
| Launch mass | 162 kilograms (357 lb) | ||
| Power | 85 watts | ||
| Equipment | 2 transponders | ||
| Regime | Geostationary | ||
| Design life | 3 years | ||
| Production | |||
| Status | Retired | ||
| Built | 4 | ||
| Launched | 4 | ||
| Retired | 4 | ||
| Maiden launch | Intelsat II F-1 26 October 1966[1] | ||
| Last launch | Intelsat II F-4 28 September 1967[1] | ||
| Related spacecraft | |||
| Derived from | Intelsat I | ||
| |||
Intelsat II was a series of fourcommunications satellites operated byIntelsat which were launched in 1966 and 1967. Built by theHughes Aircraft Company, the Intelsat II series was a follow-up to theIntelsat I series, of which only one satellite was launched.
Intelsat II spacecraft were based on theHS-303Asatellite bus, which was cylindrical in shape andspin-stabilised. The satellites had a diameter of 1.42 metres (4 ft 8 in), and were 0.67 metres (2 ft 2 in) long.[2] They were equipped with anSVM-1apogee motor to circularise their orbits following launch atopDelta E1 carrier rockets. All four satellites were launched fromLaunch Complex 17B at theCape Kennedy Air Station. Each satellite had a mass at launch of 162 kilograms (357 lb), which decreased to around 86 kilograms (190 lb) once the satellite had fired its apogee motor and manoeuvred into its orbital position.[3]
Intelsat II spacecraft were designed to be operated ingeostationary orbit; however the first satellite's apogee motor malfunctioned leaving it in a lower than planned orbit.[4] It was able to perform a limited communications mission, however the other three spacecraft successfully achieved geostationary orbit. Each satellite carried twotransponders, powered bysolar cells mounted on the body of the spacecraft, which generated 85 watts of power.
Intelsat II F-1 provided a transpacific communications link for 240 telephone channels or two television channels. Provision was made for 180 hours of telecasting per year (an average of 30 minutes per day) via the satellite.[5]
A 50-minute programme was relayed betweenTokyo andWashington, D.C. via Intelsat II F-1 on 27 January 1967. It was the first newscast and the first colour programme to be telecast across the Pacific. Japan'sFuji Television used the satellite to present direct telecasts of the worldfeatherweightboxing title match betweenVicente Saldivar andMitsunori Seki fromMexico City on 29 January.[5] It was the first live transmission of a sport event across the Pacific.Stars and Stripes reported that the pictures were clear.[6]
| Spacecraft | Nickname[3] | COSPAR ID[7] | SATCAT[7] | Launch date[1] | Longitudes | Decommissioned | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelsat II F-1 | Blue Bird | 1966-096A | 2514 | 26 October 1966 UTC | n/a | Apogee motor failure, limited operations from transfer orbit[3] | |
| Intelsat II F-2 | Lani Bird | 1967-001A | 2639 | 11 January 1967 UTC | 174° East (1967-1969) | ||
| Intelsat II F-3 | Canary Bird | 1967-026A | 2717 | 23 March 1967 UTC | 15° West (1967-1971) 35° West (1972) 15° West (1973) | ||
| Intelsat II F-4 | Pacific-2 | 1967-094A | 2969 | 28 September 1967 UTC | 176° East (1967-1970) 166° West (1971) |