FLTSATCOM F-8

USA

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Also called USA 046

Launch data:

Designation:	20253 / 89077A
Launch date	25 Sep 1989
Launch site	CC, LC-36B
Launch vehicle	Atlas-G/Centaur-D (AC-68)
Mission	Military: Communications
Geostationary orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	35745 x 35829 km
Eccentricity	9.96E-04
Inclination	8.97 deg
Period	1436.13 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	TRW, Defence and Space Systems Group
Operator	US Navy
Platform
Mass at launch	2310 kg
Mass in orbit	1884 kg
Basic shape	Hexagonal
Dimension (m)	dia: 2.43m, high: 1.27m With a 4.88m diameter antenna
Solar array	13.2m
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	BOL: 1500 W
Design lifetime	5 yrs - still active

Location:

Date	Position	Remarks
	23°W, inclined
Jan 2010	14.74° W

Mission details:

FLTSATCOM F-8 launched by Atlas Centaur on Sep 25, 1989 from Canaveral. The US Navy UHF geostatioanry communications relay was finally launched after a 2 year delay; the previous launch vehicle was damaged in a pad accident. Atlas Centaur launches will from now on be carried out by General Dynamics rather than NASA. The last major NASA expendable vehicle launch is the COBE satellite set for no earlier than Nov 9 on a Delta.

Fleetsatcom's UHF-band (244-263 MHz)

Each satellite has 23 communications channels, 10 of which are used by the Navy for communications between its land forces, ships, and aircraft. The Air Force uses 12 of the channels as part of its satellite communications system for command and control of nuclear forces. One channel is reserved for U.S. national command authorities.

Has an additional EHF payload
Old system replaced by UFO satellites; this satellite still operational as of 2009.

Ref: #7(JR26), #15, #226 - update: 28.03.10