Marisat 1 (original) (raw)

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Marisat 1

Mission type Communications
Operator COMSAT[1]Inmarsat
COSPAR ID 1976-017A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no. 08697
Mission duration 21 years
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type HS-356
Manufacturer Hughes
Launch mass 665.0 kg (1,466.1 lb)
BOL mass 362 kg (798 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date February 19, 1976, 22:32 (1976-02-19UTC22:32Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Delta 2914
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17B
End of mission
Deactivated April 1, 1997 (1997-05)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 105° W
Eccentricity 0.00195[3]
Perigee altitude 35,867 kilometres (22,287 mi)[3]
Apogee altitude 35,703 kilometres (22,185 mi)[3]
Inclination 2.4°[3]
Period 1,436.1 minutes[3]
Epoch February 19, 1976[3]
Transponders
Band 1 L band, 1 C band and 3 UHF
Marisat← NoneMarisat 2

Marisat 1 (or Marisat F1) is a communications satellite operated by COMSAT. Marisat 1 was the first of a series of Marisat COMSAT maritime communications satellites.

The spacecraft was capable of transmitting voice, data, facsimile and Telex messages to and from ships at sea through special shore stations at Southbury, Connecticut and Saint Paul, CA, which were interconnected with existing domestic terrestrial networks. The system was initially utilized primarily by the U.S. Navy, with a limited amount of satellite capacity provided in different frequency bands (L band), through separate satellite transponders, for maritime communications services to commercial entities and other interested users. At such time as the Navy's requirements terminate (late 1970s) substantial satellite capacity will become available for commercial maritime purposes. Following launch, satellite operation was nominal. It was placed in geosynchronous orbit at 15 degrees west and using propulsion FW-5.

Marisat 1 was launched by a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, at 22:32 UTC on February 19, 1976.[3]

  1. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Marisat 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Marisat 1". NSSDC Master Catalog. Retrieved May 23, 2017. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.