| Intelsat V F-1 → Intelsat 501 | |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | COMSAT / INTELSAT |
| Cospar Id: | 1981-050A |
| Satcat: | 12474 |
| Mission Duration: | 7 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Intelsat V |
| Manufacturer: | Ford Aerospace |
| Dry Mass: | 1012 kg |
| Launch Mass: | 1928 kg |
| Dimensions: | 1.66 x 2.1 x 1.77 metres |
| Power: | 1800 watts |
| Launch Date: | 23 May 1981, 22:42:00 UTC [1] |
| Launch Rocket: | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur (AC-56) |
| Launch Site: | CCAFS, LC-36B |
| Launch Contractor: | General Dynamics |
| Disposal Type: | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated: | February 1997 |
| Orbit Epoch: | 23 May 1981 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[2] |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 177.0° West (1981-1992) 91.5° East (1992-1996) 72.0° East (1996-1997) |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 21 C-band 4 Ku-band |
| Programme: | Intelsat V |
| Previous Mission: | Intelsat V F-2 |
| Next Mission: | Intelsat V F-3 |
Intelsat V F-1 (or Intelsat 501) was a geostationary communications satellite built by Ford Aerospace, it was owned by COMSAT. Launched in 1981, it was the second of fifteen Intelsat V satellites to be launched. The satellite was based on the Intelsat V platform and its estimated useful life was seven years.
The satellite was box-shaped, measuring 1.66 by 2.1 by 1.77 metres; solar arrays spanned 15.9 metres tip to tip. The arrays, supplemented by nickel-hydrogen batteries during eclipse, provided 1800 watts of power. The payload housed 21 C-band and 4 Ku-band transponders. It could accommodate 15,000 two-way voice circuits and two TV channels simultaneously. It had a launch mass of 1928 kg.[3] The satellite was deactivated in February 1997.
The satellite was successfully launched into space on 23 May 1981, at 22:42:00 UTC, by means of an Atlas SLV-3D Centaur vehicle from the CCAFS, LC-36B.[4]