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]
Mission type | Communication |
---|---|
Operator | Thaicom |
COSPAR ID | 2006-020B |
SATCAT no. | 29163 |
Mission duration | 12 years (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | Spacebus 3000A |
Manufacturer | Alcatel Alenia Space |
Launch mass | 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 27 May 2006, 21:09 | UTC
Rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Decommissioned |
Deactivated | 26 February 2020, 09:52[1] | UTC
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Geostationary now graveyard orbit |
Longitude | 78.5° East |
Perigee altitude | 35,777 kilometres (22,231 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 35,796 kilometres (22,243 mi) |
Inclination | 0 degrees |
Period | 24 hours |
Epoch | 27 May 2006, 17:09:00 UTC[2] |
Transponders | |
Band | 25 C band 14 Ku band |
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]
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.