Thaicom 5

Summary

Thaicom 5 was a geostationary communications satellite operated by Thaicom. It was used to provide communications services to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Americas, Europe and Australia.[3]

THAICOM 5
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorThaicom
COSPAR ID2006-020B Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.29163
Mission duration12 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
BusSpacebus 3000A
ManufacturerAlcatel Alenia Space
Launch mass2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date27 May 2006, 21:09 (2006-05-27UTC21:09Z) UTC
RocketAriane 5ECA
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated26 February 2020, 09:52 (2020-02-26UTC09:53Z) UTC[1]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
now graveyard orbit
Longitude78.5° East
Perigee altitude35,777 kilometres (22,231 mi)
Apogee altitude35,796 kilometres (22,243 mi)
Inclination0 degrees
Period24 hours
Epoch27 May 2006, 17:09:00 UTC[2]
Transponders
Band25 C band
14 Ku band

Overview

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Thaicom 5 was constructed by Alcatel Alenia Space, and is based on the Spacebus 3000A satellite bus, with a configuration identical to the Thaicom 3 satellite which it replaced. It was originally ordered as Thaicom 4, but sold to Agrani as Agrani 2 before completion. It was completed in 1997, and stored until June 2005 when it was cancelled and sold back to Thaicom. It was equipped with 25 G/H band (IEEE C band) and 14 J band (IEEE Ku band) transponders, and at launch it had a mass of 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of 12 years.[4][5]

Thaicom 5 began experiencing technical difficulties in December 2019, causing Thaicom to duplicate some channels, including Korean Central Television, to neighboring satellites.[6]

Launch

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The satellite was launched on an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, contracted by Arianespace, flying from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre. The launch occurred at 21:09 UTC on 27 May 2006, and placed Thaicom 5, along with the Mexican Satmex 6 spacecraft, into geosynchronous transfer orbit.[7] At the time, it was the heaviest dual-satellite payload ever launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit,[8] however, this record has since been broken.

Following launch, Thaicom 5 raised itself into geostationary orbit using an S400 engine, with insertion occurring on 3 June 2006.[9] It underwent on-orbit testing, and was positioned at a longitude of 78.5° East for operational service, where it replaced the failing Thaicom 3 satellite.[3] On 2 October 2006, after Thaicom 5 had become operational, Thaicom 3 was moved to a graveyard orbit.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Thaicom 5 Satellite Ends Service". Thaicom. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b "THAICOM 5". Satellites. Thaicom Public Company Limited. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  4. ^ "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  5. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "THAICOM 3, 5". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  6. ^ Williams, Martyn (5 February 2020). "KCTV appears on Chinese satellite". Archived from the original on 5 February 2020.
  7. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  8. ^ Launch Webcast. Arianespace. 27 May 2006.
  9. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
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  • International Media Switzerland Archived 25 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official provider's site