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Class: Communications. Nation: International. Agency: ITSO . Manufacturer: Hughes. Intelsat 4A satellites increased satellite capacity to 7250 voice circuits or 2 TV channels. Spacecraft: Spin stabilised with a despun antenna structure. Hydrazine propulsion system. Passive thermal control. Body mounted solar cells. Payload: Twenty transponders. Multiple access.7250 voice circuits or 2 TV channels.
SpecificationDesign Life: 7 years. Total Length: 6.8 m. Maximum Diameter: 2.4 m. Total Mass: 1,520 kg.
Intelsat 4A Chronology
26 September 1975
Intelsat 4A F-1 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 1,500 kg. Perigee: 35,860 km. Apogee: 35,910 km. Inclination: 8.9 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
29 January 1976
Intelsat 4A F-2 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 1,500 kg. Perigee: 35,924 km. Apogee: 35,981 km. Inclination: 9.0 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
13 May 1976
Comstar 1 Program: Comstar. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 792 kg. Perigee: 35,867 km. Apogee: 35,878 km. Inclination: 8.7 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
22 July 1976
Comstar 2 Program: Comstar. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 792 kg. Perigee: 35,764 km. Apogee: 35,812 km. Inclination: 8.6 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
26 May 1977
Intelsat 4A F-4 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 1,500 kg. Perigee: 35,969 km. Apogee: 36,075 km. Inclination: 7.8 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
30 September 1977
Intelsat IVA F-5 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. FAILURE: Atlas failure - gas generator hot gas leak. Mass: 1,500 kg.
07 January 1978
Intelsat 4A F-3 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 1,511 kg. Perigee: 35,874 km. Apogee: 35,909 km. Inclination: 7.2 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
31 March 1978
Intelsat 4A F-6 Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 826 kg. Perigee: 35,739 km. Apogee: 35,797 km. Inclination: 7.3 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
29 June 1978
Comstar 3 Program: Comstar. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 1,520 kg. Perigee: 36,000 km. Apogee: 36,183 km. Inclination: 7.1 deg. US domestic telephone service. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
21 February 1981
Comstar 4 Program: Comstar. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. Mass: 1,520 kg. Perigee: 35,783 km. Apogee: 35,792 km. Inclination: 7.2 deg. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit
Bibliography:- 126 - Bramscher, Robert G, Spaceflight, "A Survey of Launch Vehicle Failures", 1980, Volume 22, page 351.
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Last update 12 March 2001.
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