TDF 1

TDF 1 or TDF-1 was a French communications satellite which was to have been operated by Télévision de France. 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, and an expected operational lifespan of eight years.

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. It was a Spacebus 300 satellite bus.

Mission

TDF 1 was placed into a geostationary orbit at a longitude of 19.2° West.