Intelsat II

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A Delta-E1 - launcher with Intelsat-II F-1

Intelsat II is the name of four communications satellites owned by Intelsat based in Luxembourg . The Intelsat II series is the second generation of Intelsat satellites. The four satellites are twice as powerful as their predecessor from the Intelsat I series. The first satellite was launched in 1966. The satellite delivered next to the commercial operation and communication support for the Apollo program of NASA .

Technical specifications

The Intelsat II satellites, twice the size and weight of Early Bird and more than twice the power, were equipped with an advanced antenna system developed by Hughes that enabled direct contact with several ground stations at the same time.

The design concept of the satellites followed the same basic principles developed by Hughes for Early Bird. This included spin stabilization and a simple gas jet system for position control purposes .

The structure consisted of a central tube that contained the apogee motor and communication antenna. A rear partition protected most of the payload electronics.

The basic communication system consisted of two redundant repeaters with a noise figure of 6 dB and four 6-watt traveling wave tubes, one, two or three of which could be switched on in parallel.

The satellite's telemetry system was similar to that of Early Bird and included two encoders , two VHF transmitters, and eight whip antennas . The communication capacity of each satellite was 240 two-way telephone lines or one two-way TV channel.

A self-contained apogee motor, fired by a command from ground control, provided the speed increase required to move the satellite off transfer orbit into geosynchronous orbit.

Since all satellites were identical, the following information applies to all spacecraft in the series:

The satellites

Intelsat II F-1

Intelsat II F-1 (also known as the " Blue Bird ") was the largest communications satellite ever put into synchronous orbit for commercial operation. He was on a on October 26, 1966 Delta-E1 - carrier rocket from Cape Canaveral , launch pad 17B in a geo-transfer orbit started. By igniting the apogee motor, the orbit should then be raised into geostationary orbit . But the engine only fired 4 seconds instead of the planned 16 seconds. It never landed in its planned orbit like this. Despite its false orbit, the satellite was used to carry television broadcasts and other communications traffic. The mission has been rated as a partial success by Intelsat.

Intelsat II F-2

Intelsat II F-2 (also called " Lani Bird ") was launched in synchronous orbit on January 11, 1967 aboard a Delta-E1 from Cape Canaveral, LC-17B. Main operations began on January 27, 1967. The satellite could be received at ground stations in the United States , Hawaii , Australia and Japan .

Intelsat II F-3

Intelsat II F-3 (also called " Canary Bird ") was launched on March 22, 1967 on a Delta-E1 from Cape Canaveral and positioned in synchronous orbit over the Atlantic.

Intelsat II F-4

Intelsat II F-4 was launched on September 27, 1967 aboard a Delta-E1 from the LC-17B of the Cape Canaveral for operations over the Pacific.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Intelsat II at Gunter's Space Page (English).

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