Intelsat III F-2

Intelsat III F-2 was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1968 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 24 degrees west for around eighteen months.

Spacecraft

The second of eight Intelsat III satellites to be launched, Intelsat III F-2 was built by TRW. It was a spacecraft, with its mass reducing to by entry into service as it burned propellant to reach its final orbit. The satellite carried an SVM-2 apogee motor for propulsion and was equipped with two transponders powered by body-mounted solar cells generating 183 watts of power. It was designed for a five-year service life.

Launch

The launch of Intelsat III F-2 made use of a Delta M rocket flying from Cape Canaveral [Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17|Launch Complex 17A] at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch took place at 00:32 GMT on 19 December 1968, with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Intelsat III F-2 subsequently fired its apogee motor to achieve geostationary orbit. It was operated at a longitude of 24° west, over Brazil; however it ceased operations after only a year and a half in orbit, in mid-1971.

Orbit

Intelsat III F-2 remains in a graveyard orbit as an orbital debris. As of 7 February 2014, it was in an orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, inclination of 13.73° and an orbital period of 26.60 hours.