Spaceway-3 is a communications satellite which was launched on August 14, 2007, at 23:44:00 UTC. The third satellite in the Spaceway series, it includes a Ka-band communications payload.[1] It is used by Hughes Network Systems to provide broadband Internet Protocol network service.

Spaceway-3
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorHughes Network Systems
COSPAR ID2007-036A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.32018
Mission duration12 years (planned)
17 years, 3 months, 18 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
BusBSS-702
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass6075 kg
Dry mass3655 kg
Power12800 watts
Start of mission
Launch date14 August 2007, 23:44:00 UTC
RocketAriane 5
Launch siteKourou, ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Entered serviceOctober 2007
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude95.0° West
Transponders
BandKa-band
Frequency500 MHz
Bandwidth10 Gbit/s
Coverage areaNorth America

History

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In March 2007, shortly after the failure of a Sea Launch rocket launch in January 2007, Hughes Network Systems switched launch of Spaceway-3 from a Zenit-3SL rocket to an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.[2][3]

Launch

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Spaceway-3 was launched 14 August 2007 on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle with BSAT-3a.[4] It lifted off at 23:44 UTC from ELA-3 of the Centre Spatial Guyanais. Five hours and 46 minutes later, signals from the spacecraft were successfully received at a ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Launch Kit" (PDF). Arianespace. 14 March 2007.
  2. ^ "Hughes Signs Contract with Arianespace to Launch SPACEWAY 3". Hughes. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007.
  3. ^ "Hughes Network Systems Awards SPACEWAY 3 Launch Contract to Sea Launch Company". Hughes. 8 December 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Arianespace boosts SPACEWAY 3 and BSAT-3a into orbit". Arianespace. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007.
  5. ^ "Boeing-Built Spaceway 3 Satellite Operational after Successful Launch". Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008.