ECS 1 --> Eutelsat-1 F1

Spacecraft n°:

EUTELSAT spacecraft n°: 1

Launch data: Designation 14128 / 83058A Launch date 16 Jun 1983 - 11:59:03 UT Launch site Ko, ELA-1 Launch vehicle Ariane-1 (L06) Mission Communications Geostationary orbit on:

Spacecraft data:

Location

End of life

Description

• The European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) has been servicing the European community since 1977, being formally established by a multi-lateral agreement in 1985.
• In 1979 ESA agreed to design, build, and launch five ECS (European Communication Satellite) spacecraft to be assumed by Eutelsat after passing initial on-orbiting testing. Of the five ECS spacecraft, four were successfully launched (1983, 1984, 1987, and 1988) and transferred to Eutelsat. ECS 3 was lost in an Ariane-3 launch accident in 1985.
• After launch, the European Space Operation Centre (ESOC) took over control of the spacecraft ECS-1. After intensive testing by ESOC, the spacecraft was formally handed over to EUTELSAT in oct 1983, and renamed Eutelsat-1 F1.
• This satellite was not as efficient as other Eutelsat 1 series. It could only use 6 transponders during an eclipse.
• Beacon: 11.451091 GHz

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Kourou. Credit: #411

Launch cancel Kourou. Credit: #410