Intelsat IS-27

Spacecraft nr:

Intelsat spacecraft nr:

Launch data: Designation  13F01 Launch date  01 Feb 2013 - 06:56 UT (1:56 a.m. EST) Launch site  SL Odyssey platform Launch vehicle  Zenit-3SL Mission  Communications

Image: Boeing

Intelsat 27 during final Processing. Photo: Intelsat

Payload Fairing Installation

Description:

• The IS-27 UHF hosted payload provides capability to complement the existing UFO (UHF Follow-On) and future MUOS (Multi-User Objective System) satellites. The payload supports DAMA and IW operations, and is digitally tunable and completely interoperable with existing terminals. The IS-27 UHF payload will be functionally equivalent to the Navy’s UFO-11 satellite.
• The payload is powered by two solar wings, each with three panels of ultra triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells.
• The commercial payload that is installed on Intelsat 27 consists of Ku-Band and C-Band transponders. Sixteen 36MHz and four 72MHz C-Band transponders are installed on the satellite and the Ku payload features transponders combining channels at 27, 36, 54, 72 and 77MHz. The commercial portion of the satellite will provide communication to media and network customers in North- and South America as well as Europe. Intelsat 27 will be stationed at 304.5 degrees East in Geostationary Transfer Orbit from where it will operate for at least 15 years, replacing the Intelsat 805 satellite.

Mission details:

• The 20-story rocket, loaded with more than 900,000 pounds of flammable propellant, blasted off at 0656 GMT (1:56 a.m. EST) on Feb 01, 2013 from Sea Launch's Odyssey launch platform (at 154W, 0N on the equator) stationed in the Pacific Ocean about 1,400 miles south of Hawaii.
• But something almost immediately went wrong with the launch, and the three-stage rocket appeared to fly off course before its RD-171 main engine switched off about 25 seconds after liftoff, apparently as a safety measure. Sea Launch's rockets carry an on-board health monitor to turn off their engines in the event of a problem, according to the company's website. Intelsat's IS-27 communications satellite was aboard. IS-27 carried Ku and C band comms payloads as well as a UHF payload which was to be used by the Italian government.