*** Welcome to piglix ***

Inmarsat-4 F3

Inmarsat-4 F3
Operator Inmarsat
Spacecraft properties
Bus Eurostar E3000
Manufacturer EADS Astrium
Launch mass 5,960 kilograms (13,140 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 18 August 2008 (2008-08-18)
Rocket Proton-M/Briz-M
Launch site Baikonur 200/39
Contractor ILS
Entered service 7 January 2009
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 98° West

Inmarsat-4 F3 is a communications I-4 satellite operated by the British satellite operator Inmarsat. It was launched into a geosynchronous orbit at 22:43 GMT on 18 August 2008, by a Proton-M/Briz-M Enhanced carrier rocket. It is currently located at 97.65° West longitude, providing coverage of the Americas. It entered service on 7 January 2009.

Like the earlier Inmarsat-4 F1 and F2 satellites, Inmarsat-4 F3 was constructed by EADS Astrium, using a Eurostar E3000 bus. It has a mass of 5,960 kilograms, and is expected to operate for 13 years. It was originally slated for launch using an Atlas V 531, but was transferred to Proton due to a large backlog of Atlas launches.

In the United States, Inmarsat ground stations are licensed to operate at 1525-1559 MHz and 1626.5-1660.5 MHz. The 1544-1545 MHz and 1645.5-1646.5 MHz bands are reserved for safety and distress communications.



...
Wikipedia

...