Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Soyuz U | Progress M-38
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
March 14, 1998, 10:45 p.m.
Atlas IIAS | INTELSAT 806
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Feb. 28, 1998, 12:21 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Intelsat VIII-VIII/A series has been designed to meet the needs of Intelsat users throughout the system for improved C-band coverage and service. These spacecraft will incorporate six-fold C-band frequency reuse, two-fold frequency reuse of expanded C-band capacity, and the highest C-band power level ever for an Intelsat satellite. Consequently, Intelsat VIII will provide significantly more C-band capacity for public switched telephony and Intelsat Business Service, better quality for video services, and encourage new international VSAT applications.
Geostationary Orbit
Ariane 42P | Hot Bird 4
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Feb. 27, 1998, 10:38 p.m.
Pegasus XL | Broadband Advanced Technologies Satellite (BATSAT/Teledesic T1) & Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE)
Orbital Sciences Corporation | United States of AmericaAir launch to orbit
Feb. 26, 1998, 7:07 a.m.
H-II | Kakehashi
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | JapanTanegashima Space Center, Japan
Feb. 21, 1998, 7:55 a.m.
Delta II | Iridium 50, 52, 53, 54, 56
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Feb. 18, 1998, 1:58 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Iridium provides global mobile telecommunications services using a constellation of 66 low earth orbit satellites in a 86.4° inclined orbit. Although 77 satellites were originally envisioned for the system and spawned the name based on the 77th element in the periodic table, the system has been scaled back. Motorola's Satellite Communications Group designed and manufactured the Iridium satellites with Lockheed Martin providing the LM-700A spacecraft buses.
Low Earth OrbitSoyuz-U-PVB | Yantar-1KFT 19
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 17, 1998, 10:35 a.m.
Delta 7420-10C | Globalstar 1 to 4
McDonnell Douglas | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Feb. 14, 1998, 2:34 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Globalstar global mobile communications network offers global, digital real time voice, data and fax via a constellation of 48 minisatellites. The constellation operates in a 1410 km orbit inclined at 52 degrees, and will also have 8 spares. The satellites were built by Space Systems Loral and Alenia Aerospazio in Rome, Italy.
Low Earth OrbitTaurus 2210 | GFO
Orbital Sciences Corporation | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Feb. 10, 1998, 1:20 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The US Navy GFO (Geosat Follow On), is a 369 kg minisatellite based on the Techstar platform to carry on the mission of Geosat. It was launched on the 10th February 1998 on a Taurus-2210 from VAFB alongside two Orbcomm satellites, into a 789 × 881 km (779 × 790 km planned) 108 degree inclined orbit.
Low Earth Orbit
Ariane 44LP | Inmarsat-3 F5 & Brasilsat B3
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Feb. 4, 1998, 11:29 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Launched in 1996-8, the Inmarsat-3s were built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space) of the USA, responsible for the basic spacecraft, and the European Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium), which developed the communications payload. Brazil's second generation of communications satellites are the result of joint engineering and manufacturing efforts in the United States and Brazil. The new spacecraft are called the Brasilsat B series, and are widebody, more powerful versions of Hughes Space and Communications Company's popular HS-376 model. EMBRATEL, Brazil's telecommunications company, signed a contract in August 1990 for two spacecraft. In December 1995, with those new satellites in orbit and rapidly filling with customers, EMBRATEL exercised an option for a third spacecraft. A fourth was ordered in June 1998.
Geostationary Orbit
