NSS-806 explained

0°N -47.5°W

NSS-806
Mission Type:Communications
Operator:IntelsatSES World Skies
Cospar Id:1998-014A
Satcat:25239
Mission Duration:15 years
Spacecraft Type:AS-7000
Manufacturer:Lockheed Martin
Dry Mass:2200kg (4,900lb)[1]
Launch Mass:3720kg (8,200lb)
Launch Date: UTC[2]
Launch Rocket:Atlas IIAS AC-151
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral SLC-36B
Orbit Epoch:May 7, 2017[3]
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Geostationary
Orbit Apoapsis:35767km (22,225miles)[4]
Orbit Periapsis:35806km (22,249miles)
Orbit Inclination:0.058°
Orbit Period:1,436.1 minutes
Orbit Eccentricity:0.0004615
Apsis:gee
Trans Band:28 C Band, 3
Trans Coverage:Americas, Europe
Programme:Intelsat 8
Previous Mission:Intelsat 805
Next Mission:Intelsat 901 (Intelsat 9)

NSS-806 (New Skies Satellite 806), before Intelsat 806, is a communications satellite originally operated by Intelsat. Launched in 1998 it was operated in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 47 degrees west for around 15 years. It is currently located in the orbital position of 47.5 degrees west longitude, was initially operated by Intelsat, orbited at 40.5 degrees west, and was purchased by SES World Skies (a subsidiary of SES).

Satellite

NSS-806 is equipped with 28 transponders in C band and 3 in Ku band, making transmissions for the Americas and parts of Europe. In order to receive the signal it requires a monofocal antenna (LNBF antenna in the center), a LNBF for C band (5150 MHz) and a digital receiver compatible with C band. The NSS-806 emits its signal in circular polarization.

Launch

The launch of NSS-806 made use of an Atlas II rocket flying from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, United States. The launch took place at 00:16 UTC on February 28, 1998, with the spacecraft entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. NSS-806 subsequently fired its apogee motor to achieve geostationary orbit.

Health and replacement

In July 2017, seven years past its 12-year intended design life, NSS-806 lost the use of 12 of its 39 transponders. NSS-806's replacement, SES-14, was scheduled to be launched in first quarter of 2018 on a SpaceX Falcon 9, and SES predicted that the transponder failure would result in a revenue loss of between 7 and 9 million euros.[5] The following month, SES arranged to swap flights so that SES-12 would launch in January 2018 on an Ariane 5, with SES-12, originally scheduled for that flight, now launching on the Falcon 9 later in Q1.[6]

SES-14 was launched from Kourou on 25 January 2018, but was placed in an incorrect orbit due to a launch vehicle anomaly. SES reported that the all-electric SES-14 would take four more weeks than originally planned to reach its operating orbit, but that the satellite was healthy and was expected to meet its designed life time. SES-14's in-service date, originally set for July 2018, was expected to be pushed back until at least August 2018.[7] [8]

Technical details

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NSS-806. SatBeams - Satellite Details. May 7, 2017.
  2. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan. McDowell. Jonathan's Space Page. May 7, 2017.
  3. Web site: INTELSAT 806 . N2YO. May 7, 2017.
  4. Web site: NSS 806 (INTELSAT 806) . Chris . Peat . Heavens Above . May 7, 2017.
  5. Web site: SES loses 12 transponders on NSS-806 satellite, says impact is temporary . Caleb . Henry . Space News . July 31, 2017 . January 27, 2018.
  6. Web site: SES flips SpaceX, Arianespace launches to speed NSS-806 replacement . Caleb . Henry . Space News . August 28, 2017 . January 27, 2018.
  7. Web site: Satellites placed into incorrect orbits by Ariane 5 can be recovered, owners say . Caleb . Henry . Space News . January 26, 2018 . January 27, 2018.
  8. Web site: SES-14 in good health and on track despite launch anomaly . Markus . Payer . SES . January 26, 2018 . January 27, 2018.