TDF 1

TDF 1 or TDF-1 was a French communications satellite which was to have been operated by Télévision de France (France Télécom). It was intended to be used to provide television broadcast services to Europe, however it failed before entering service. It was constructed by Aérospatiale, based on the Spacebus 300 satellite bus, and carried five Ku-band transponders. At launch it had a mass of 2,144 kg (4,727 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of eight years.^[2]

TDF 1

Stamp artwork
Names	TDF-1
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Télévision de France / France Télécom
COSPAR ID	1988-098A
SATCAT no.	19621
Mission duration	8 years (planned) 8 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	TDF 1
Spacecraft type	Spacebus
Bus	Spacebus 300
Manufacturer	Eurosatellite (Aérospatiale) and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
Launch mass	2,144 kg (4,727 lb)
Dry mass	1,300 kg (2,900 lb)
Dimensions	2.4 x 1.64 x 7.1 m Span: 19.3 m on orbit
Power	4.3 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	28 October 1988, 02:17:00 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 2 (V26)
Launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, ELA-1
Contractor	Arianespace
Entered service	December 1988
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	October 1996
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[1]
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	19.2° West (1988-1996)
Transponders
Band	5 Ku-Band[1]
Bandwidth	27 MHz
Coverage area	Europe, France
TDF constellation TDF 2 →

Launch

TDF 1 was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 2 launch vehicle flying from ELA-1 at Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 02:17:00 UTC on 28 October 1988.^[3] It was a Spacebus 300 satellite bus.^[2]

Mission

TDF 1 was placed into a geostationary orbit at a longitude of 19.2° West.^[1][4]

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• 1988 in spaceflight