Intelsat 3

Part of the Intelsat program

Intelsat 3 spacecraft were used to relay commercial global telecommunications including live TV. Three of the 8 satellites in the series (F1, F5, F8) were unusable due to launch vehicle failures, and most of the remainder did not achieve their desired lifetimes. F2 operated for 1.5 years, F3 was partially operational for 7 years, F4 lasted 3 years, F6 survived 2 years, and F7 remained usable for 16 years.

Spacecraft
Spin stabilized with a despun antenna structure (34 inch tall antenna). Hydrazine propulsion system with 4 thrusters and 4 tanks. Passive thermal control. Body mounted solar cells produced 178 W peak, 9 AHr NiCd batteries.

Payload
Two transponders using 12 watt TWTA amplifiers. Multiple access. 1500 voice circuits or 4 TV channels.

Country of Origin	International
Customer/User	ITSO
Manufacturer(s)	TRW
Size	Cylinder: 104 cm long x 142 cm diameter
Orbit	All intended to go to geosynchronous. / F2: GEO over Atlantic / F3: GEO over Indian Ocean / F4: GEO over Pacific / F5: 252 x 1301 km, incl. = 30.3 deg / F6: GEO over Atlantic / F7: GEO over Atlantic / F8: 19400 x 36030 km incl. = 13.3 deg
Design Life	5 years

Launch Facts

Name	Int'l Desig.	Date	Site	Vehicle	Orbit	Mass(kg)
Notes
Intelsat 3 F-1	none	9/18/68	ESMC	Delta M	FTO	293
Control system failure; destroyed by range safety
Intelsat 3 F-2	1968-116A	12/19/68	ESMC	Delta M	GEO	293
Over Brazil
Intelsat 3 F-3	1969-011A	2/6/69	ESMC	Delta M	GEO	293
63 deg E
Intelsat 3 F-4	1969-045A	5/22/69	ESMC	Delta M	GEO	293
174 deg E
Intelsat 3 F-5	1969-064A	7/26/69	ESMC	Delta M	LEO	269
3rd stage failure; left in unusable orbit
Intelsat 3 F-6	1970-003A	1/15/70	ESMC	Delta M	GEO	293
336 deg E
Intelsat 3 F-7	1970-032A	4/23/70	ESMC	Delta M	GEO	293
341 deg E
Intelsat 3 F-8	1970-055A	7/23/70	ESMC	Delta M	HEO	270
Unusable orbit