EchoStar II

This article is about the 1990s communications satellite. For the 1960s communications satellite, see Echo 2 (satellite).

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.

EchoStar II

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 (2008-07-14)
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	16 Ku band
Frequency	Uplink: 17.3 - 17.8 GHz Downlink: 12.2 - 12.7 GHz
Bandwidth	24 MHz
Coverage area	Contiguous United States
EIRP	53 dBW

Satellite

The launch of EchoStar I made use of an Ariane 4 rocket flying from Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, 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.

Specifications

• Launch mass: 2,885 kilograms (6,360 lb)
• Power source: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
• Stabilization: 3-axis
• Propulsion: 2 × LEROS-1B

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• 1996 in spaceflight