AsiaSat 1

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AsiaSat 1
NamesWestar 6
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorAsiaSat
COSPAR ID1990-030A
SATCAT no.20558
Websitehttps://www.asiasat.com
Mission duration9 years (planned)
12.5 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftAsiaSat-1
BusHS-376
ManufacturerHughes Space and Communications
Launch mass1,244 kg (2,743 lb)
Dry mass620 kg (1,370 lb)
Dimensions2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) diameter
6.6 m (22 ft) height
stowed: 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in)
Power850 watts
Start of mission
Launch date7 April 1990, 13:30:02 UTC
RocketLong March 3
Launch siteXichang,
ContractorCGWIC
Entered serviceJune 1990
End of mission
DisposalGraveyard orbit
DeactivatedJanuary 2003
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude100.5° East (1990-1999)
122° East (1999-2003)
Transponders
Band24 C-band
Bandwidth36 MHz
Coverage areaAsia, Pacific Ocean
 

AsiaSat 1 was a Hong Kong communications satellite, which was owned, and was operated, by the Hong Kong based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company. It was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 100.5° East. It spent its operational life at 100.5° East,[1] from where it was used to provide fixed satellite services, including broadcasting, audio and data transmission, to Asia and the Pacific Ocean.[2]

Satellite description[]

AsiaSat 1 was built by Hughes Space and Communications. It is based on the HS-376 satellite bus. At launch, it had a mass of 1,244 kg (2,743 lb),[2] and a design life of thirteen years. It carries twenty four C-band transponders.[1]

Launch[]

The launch of AsiaSat 1 was contracted to the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and used a Long March 3 launch vehicle. The launch was conducted from (LA-3) at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at 13:30:02 UTC on 7 April 1990.[3]

Westar 6[]

Westar 6 was launched from the space shuttle in February 1984. Its PAM-D misfired, however, and the satellite was stranded in a useless low orbit. It was retrieved by shuttle astronauts in November 1984, and Hughes was contracted to refurbish it. Westar 6 was eventually sold, for US$58 million, to the AsiaSat consortium and renamed AsiaSat 1.[2]

Mission[]

Asiasat 1 was replaced by AsiaSat 3S in May 1999.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "AsiaSat". AsiaSat. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "AsiaSat 1". Gunter's Space Page. 21 July 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
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