MARECS

MARECS was a version of the European Space Agency's ECS communications satellite, adapted for maritime communications. It was used by Inmarsat.

Inmarsat MARECS series

Country/ies of origin	United Kingdom (UK)
Operator(s)	Inmarsat (MARECS-B licensed to Nuovo Telespazio)
Type	Navigation Satellite
Status	Decommissioned
Coverage	Global
Constellation size
First launch	20th December 1981
Last launch	10th November 1984
Total launches	3 (1 launch failure - MARECS-B)
Orbital characteristics
Orbital height	geosynchronous orbit
Website	https://www.inmarsat.com/en/index.html

MARECS A was launched in 1981 and placed over the Atlantic Ocean. It was deactivated in August 1996.

MARECS B was lost due to launch problems in 1982, while MARECS B2 (also known as MARECS C) was launched in 1984 and placed over the Pacific Ocean. MARECS B2/C was active until 2002.^[1][2]

They were among Europe's first telecommunications satellites.