AsiaSat 1
{{Short description|AsiaSat communications satellite}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = AsiaSat 1
| names_list = Westar 6
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size = 300px
| mission_type = Communications
| operator = AsiaSat
| COSPAR_ID = 1990-030A
| SATCAT = 20558
| website = https://www.asiasat.com
| mission_duration = 9 years (planned)
12.5 years (achieved)
| spacecraft = AsiaSat-1
| spacecraft_type =
| spacecraft_bus = HS-376
| manufacturer = Hughes Space and Communications
| launch_mass = {{cvt|1244|kg}}
| dry_mass = {{cvt|620|kg}}
| dimensions = {{cvt|2.16|m}} diameter
{{cvt|6.6|m}} height
stowed: {{cvt|2.84|m}}
| power = 850 watts
| launch_date = 7 April 1990, 13:30:02 UTC
| launch_rocket = Long March 3
| launch_contractor = CGWIC
| entered_service = June 1990
| disposal_type = Graveyard orbit
| deactivated = January 2003
| last_contact =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit
| orbit_longitude = 100.5° East (1990–1999)
122° East (1999–2003)
| apsis = gee
| trans_band = 24 C-band
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth = 36 MHz
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage = Asia, Pacific Ocean
| programme = AsiaSat constellation
| previous_mission =
| next_mission = AsiaSat 2
}}
AsiaSat 1 was a Hong Kong communications satellite, which was owned, and was operated, by the Hong Kong–based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company. It was originally launched in February 1984 as Westar 6, but following a booster motor failure it was retrieved and returned to Earth in November of that year by Space Shuttle mission STS-51-A. After being sold to AsiaSat and refurbished, it was relaunched in April 1990, and positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 100.5° East. It spent its operational life at 100.5° East,{{cite web|url=http://www.asiasat.com/asiasat/contentView.php?section=39&lang=0 |title=AsiaSat|publisher=AsiaSat|access-date=2009-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175610/http://www.asiasat.com/asiasat/contentView.php?section=39&lang=0|archive-date=2011-07-07}} from where it was used to provide fixed satellite services, including broadcasting, audio and data transmission, to Asia and the Pacific Ocean.{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/asiasat-1.htm|title=AsiaSat 1|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|date=21 July 2019|access-date=2 May 2021}}
Westar 6
As Westar 6, the satellite was built by Hughes Space and Communications. It was based on the HS-376 satellite bus. At launch it had a mass of {{cvt|1244|kg}}, and a design life of thirteen years. It carried twenty four C-band transponders. After launch from the Space Shuttle as part of mission STS-41-B its PAM-D booster rocket misfired, and the satellite was stranded in a useless low orbit. It was retrieved during another Shuttle mission (STS-51-A) in November 1984, and Hughes was contracted to refurbish it. Westar 6 was eventually sold, for US$58 million, to the AsiaSat consortium and renamed AsiaSat 1.
Re-launch
The launch of AsiaSat 1 was contracted to the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and used a Long March 3 launch vehicle. The launch was conducted from Xichang Launch Area 3 (LA-3) at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at 13:30:02 UTC on 7 April 1990.{{cite web|url=https://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log |publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|date=14 March 2021|access-date=2 May 2021}}
Mission
Asiasat 1 was replaced by AsiaSat 3S in May 1999. It remains in a graveyard orbit.
See also
- Palapa B2, a communications satellite that was also retrieved and relaunched by the Space Shuttle
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{AsiaSat}}
{{Chinese satellites}}
{{Orbital launches in 1990}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 1990