0°N 55°W / 0°N 55°W / 0; -55

Intelsat 604
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorIntelsat
COSPAR ID1990-056A[1]
SATCAT no.20667[1]
Mission duration13 years (planned)
16 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
BusHS-389
ManufacturerHughes[2]
Launch mass4,215 kilograms (9,292 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date23 June 1990, 11:19 (1990-06-23UTC11:19Z) UTC
RocketCT-III/Orbus-21S CT-3[3]
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-40[3]
ContractorMartin Marietta
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated6 April 2006 (2006-04-07)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Perigee altitude35,692 kilometres (22,178 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude35,887 kilometres (22,299 mi)[4]
Inclination0.3 degrees[4]
Period1436.24 minutes[4]
Epoch26 July 1990[4]
 

Intelsat 604, previously named Intelsat VI F-4, was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1990, it was the third of five Intelsat VI satellites to be launched. The Intelsat VI series was constructed by Hughes Aircraft, based on the HS-389 satellite bus.[2]

Intelsat 604 was launched at 11:19 UTC on 23 June 1990, atop a Commercial Titan III carrier rocket, flight number CT-3, with an Orbus-21S upper stage.[2][3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and successfully placed Intelsat 604 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into its final geostationary orbit using two liquid-fuelled R-4D-12 engines,[2] with the satellite arriving in geostationary orbit on 28 June 1990.[6]

Intelsat 604 initially operated in a geostationary orbit with a perigee of 35,692 kilometres (22,178 mi), an apogee of 35,887 kilometres (22,299 mi), and 0.3 degrees of inclination,[4] however over time this became more inclined. The satellite carried 38 IEEE C band and ten IEEE Ku band transponders, and had a design life of 13 years and a mass of 4,215 kilograms (9,292 lb).[2]

Following its arrival in geostationary orbit, Intelsat 604 was deployed at a longitude of 38 degrees west. It was moved to 27.5 degrees west in January 1991, where it operated until February 1992. From October 1992 to March 2002, it was operated at 60 degrees east. After leaving this position, it was positioned at 157 degrees east from August 2002 to September 2005. Its final deployment was from February to March 2006, at 177.85 degrees. The satellite was decommissioned on 6 April 2006 after it had been moved to a graveyard orbit.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "INTELSAT 6 F-4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Krebs, Gunter. "Intelsat-6 (601, 602, 603, 604, 605)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  5. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  6. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Intelsat 604". The Satellite Encyclopedia. tbs Internet. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
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