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.
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | EchoStar |
| COSPAR ID | 1996-055A  |
| SATCAT no. | 24313 |
| Mission duration | 12 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | AS-7000 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch mass | 2,885 kg (6,360 lb) |
| Dry mass | 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) |
| Power | 7 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | September 11, 1996, 00:59 (1996-09-11UTC00:59Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane-42P H10-3 |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-2 |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | July 14, 2008 (July 14, 2008) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 80° West (current position)[1] |
| Semi-major axis | 42,146.0 km (26,188.3 mi)[1] |
| Perigee altitude | 35,764.4 km (22,223.0 mi)[1] |
| Apogee altitude | 35,787.2 km (22,237.1 mi)[1] |
| Inclination | 7.1 degrees[1] |
| Period | 1,435.2 minutes[1] |
| Epoch | November 28, 2017[1] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 16Ku band |
| Frequency | Uplink: 17.3 - 17.8 GHz Downlink: 12.2 - 12.7 GHz |
| Bandwidth | 24MHz |
| Coverage area | Contiguous United States |
| EIRP | 53 dBW |
The launch of EchoStar I made use of an Ariane 4 rocket flying from Guiana Space CentreinKourou, 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.
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