EchoStar II

EchoStar II is a communications satellite operated by EchoStar. Launched in 1996 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 148 degrees west for 12 or 15 years.

This article is about the 1990s communications satellite. For the 1960s communications satellite, see Echo 2 (satellite).
EchoStar II
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorEchoStar
COSPAR ID1996-055A
SATCAT no.24313
Mission duration12 years
Spacecraft properties
BusAS-7000
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Launch mass2,885 kg (6,360 lb)
Dry mass2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Power7 kW
Start of mission
Launch dateSeptember 11, 1996, 00:59 (1996-09-11UTC00:59Z) UTC
RocketAriane-42P H10-3
Launch siteKourou ELA-2
End of mission
DeactivatedJuly 14, 2008 (July 14, 2008)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude80° West (current position)[1]
Semi-major axis42,146.0 km (26,188.3 mi)[1]
Perigee altitude35,764.4 km (22,223.0 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude35,787.2 km (22,237.1 mi)[1]
Inclination7.1 degrees[1]
Period1,435.2 minutes[1]
EpochNovember 28, 2017[1]
Transponders
Band16 Ku band
FrequencyUplink: 17.3 - 17.8 GHz
Downlink: 12.2 - 12.7 GHz
Bandwidth24 MHz
Coverage areaContiguous United States
EIRP53 dBW
 

Satellite

The launch of EchoStar I made use of an Ariane 4 rocket flying from Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 00:59 UTC on September 11, 1996,[2] with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The spacecraft carried 16 Ku band transponders to enable direct broadcast communications and television channels through 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) dishes on the ground in the Contiguous United States.[3]

From September 1996 to November 2001, it was at position 118.8° W, while from December 2001 until July 2008, it was at position 148° W. The satellite ended its activities on July 14, 2008.

Specifications

See also

References
  1. N2yo. "ECHOSTAR 2". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  2. NASA, Goddard Space Fight Center. "Echostar 2". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  3. The Satellite Encyclopedia. "EchoStar 2". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
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