Meteosat 3

Europe / ESA

Spacecraft nº:

ESA spacecraft nº: 26

Launch data:

Designation	19215 / 88051A
Launch date	15 Jun 1988
Launch site	Ko, ELA-2
Launch vehicle	Ariane-44LP (V22)
Mission	Meteorology
Geostationary orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee	km
Eccentricity
Inclination	deg
Period	min

Meteosat 3 was fitted with a LASSO experiment (Laser Synchronisation from Stationary Orbit), a world first to achieve time-standard synchronisation over intercontinental distances.

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	Aerospatiale
Operator	ESA-->EUMETSAT
Mass at launch	~320 kg
Dry Mass	282 kg
Basic shape
Dimension	dia: 2,1 m - long: 3,195 m
Propulsion	Mage-1 ejectable
Stabilization	spin at 100 rpm
Design lifetime

Location:

Begin	End	Position
L: 15 Jun 1988	Jun 1989	0°E
Jun 1989	Jan 1990	50°W
Jan 1990	Apr 1990	0°E
Apr 1990	?Nov 1990	5°W
Jul 1991		50°W
late 1992		75°W
Apr 1993		72.8°W
Feb 1995	Nov 1995	70°W, inclined

In May 1995 Eumetsat decided it didn't need the satellite back so it remained in reserve around 70°W before final burn.

End of life:

Out of service	mid Nov 1995
Cause	pushed to the junk orbit

Downlink frequency: 137.08 & 1691 MHz + in S-band

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Kourou. Credit: #411

Headquarter cancel Paris. Credit: #411

Ref.: #15(28.02.01), #100 (ESA Features n°13-17.02.89), #411 - update: 17.11.19

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