Intelsat VA F-13

Intelsat VA F-13 or Intelsat 513, then named 'NSS-513', was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat and which was later sold to New Satellite Skies. Launched in 1988, it was the thirteenth of fifteen Intelsat V satellites to be launched. The Intelsat V series was constructed by Ford Aerospace, based on the Intelsat VA satellite bus. Intelsat VA F-13 was part of an advanced series of satellites designed to provide greater telecommunications capacity for Intelsat's global network.

Intelsat VA F-13 → NSS-513

Mission type	Communication
Operator	Intelsat (1988-1998) New Satellite Skies (1998-2003)
COSPAR ID	1988-040A
SATCAT no.	19121
Mission duration	7 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Intelsat VA
Manufacturer	Ford Aerospace
Launch mass	1981 kg [1]
Dry mass	1098 kg
Dimensions	1.66 x 2.1 x 1.77 metres
Power	1800 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	17 May 1988, 23:58:00 UTC[2]
Rocket	Ariane 2 V23
Launch site	Kourou, ELA-1
Contractor	Aérospatiale
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	July 2003
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	53.0° West (1988-1995) 177.0° West (1995-2003)
Epoch	17 May 1988
Transponders
Band	26 C-band 6 Ku-band
Intelsat V ← Intelsat VA F-12 Intelsat VA F-14 →

Satellite

The satellite was box-shaped, measuring 1.66 by 2.1 by 1.77 metres; solar arrays spanned 15.9 metres tip to tip. The arrays, supplemented by nickel-hydrogen batteries during eclipse, provided 1800 watts of power at mission onset, approximately 1280 watts at the end of its seven-year design life. The payload housed 26 C-band and 6 Ku-band transponders. It could accommodate 15,000 two-way voice circuits and two TV channels simultaneously. It also provided maritime communications for ships at sea.^[3]

Launch

The satellite was successfully launched into space on 17 May 1988, at 23:58:00 UTC, by means of an Ariane 2 vehicle from the Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana. It had a launch mass of 1981 kg.^[4] The Intelsat VA F-13 was equipped with 6 Ku-band transponders more 26 C-band transponders for 15,000 audio circuits and two TV channels.

NSS-513

Intelsat 513 was sold to New Satellite Skies on 30 November 1998, and renamed NSS-513. The satellite was deactivated in August 2003.