Intelsat V F-1

Intelsat V F-1 (or Intelsat 501) was a geostationary communications satellite built by Ford Aerospace, it was owned by COMSAT. Launched in 1981, it was the second of fifteen Intelsat V satellites to be launched. The satellite was based on the Intelsat V platform and its estimated useful life was seven years.

Intelsat V F-1 → Intelsat 501

Mission type	Communications
Operator	COMSAT / INTELSAT
COSPAR ID	1981-050A
SATCAT no.	12474
Mission duration	7 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Intelsat V
Manufacturer	Ford Aerospace
Launch mass	1928 kg
Dry mass	1012 kg
Dimensions	1.66 x 2.1 x 1.77 metres
Power	1800 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	23 May 1981, 22:42:00 UTC [1]
Rocket	Atlas SLV-3D Centaur (AC-56)
Launch site	CCAFS, LC-36B
Contractor	General Dynamics
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	February 1997
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[2]
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	177.0° West (1981-1992) 91.5° East (1992-1996) 72.0° East (1996-1997)
Epoch	23 May 1981
Transponders
Band	21 C-band 4 Ku-band
Intelsat V ← Intelsat V F-2 Intelsat V F-3 →

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. The payload housed 21 C-band and 4 Ku-band transponders. It could accommodate 15,000 two-way voice circuits and two TV channels simultaneously. It had a launch mass of 1928 kg.^[3] The satellite was deactivated in February 1997.

Launch

The satellite was successfully launched into space on 23 May 1981, at 22:42:00 UTC, by means of an Atlas SLV-3D Centaur vehicle from the CCAFS, LC-36B.^[4]

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• 1981 in spaceflight