Sirius FM-3

Sirius FM-3, also known as Radiosat 3, was an American communications satellite which was operated by Sirius XM Radio, previously Sirius Satellite Radio. It was constructed by Space Systems Loral and was based on the LS-1300 satellite bus. Launch occurred on 30 November 2000, at 19:59 GMT. The launch was contracted by International Launch Services, and used a Proton-K/DM3 carrier rocket flying from Site 81/23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Sirius FM-3

Mission type	Communication
Operator	Sirius Sirius XM Radio
COSPAR ID	2000-077A
SATCAT no.	26626
Mission duration	Planned: 15 years; Achieved: 15-16 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus	LS-1300
Manufacturer	Loral
Launch mass	3,800 kilograms (8,400 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	30 November 2000 (2000-11-30)
Rocket	Proton-K/DM3
Launch site	Baikonur 81/23
Contractor	ILS
End of mission
Disposal	Disposal orbit
Deactivated	2016 (2017)
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Tundra

It was operating in a tundra orbit, from where it provided satellite radio communications services to North America. It had an expected operational lifetime of 15 years.

In 2016, the satellite was decommissioned and moved into a disposal orbit.^[1]

Animation of Sirius's orbit

Around the Earth

Earth fixed frame - Equatorial view

Earth fixed frame - Polar view

  Earth ·   Sirius FM-5 ·   Sirius FM-1  ·   Sirius FM-2  ·   Sirius FM-3

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• Sirius FM-1
• Sirius FM-2
• Sirius FM-5