Intelsat 3R

{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Intelsat 3R

| names_list = PAS-3R
PANAMSAT 3R
IS-3R
Panamsat K4

| image =

| image_caption =

| image_size = 300px

| mission_type = Communications

| operator = PanAmSat (1996-2006)
Intelsat (2006-2011)

| COSPAR_ID = 1996-002A

| SATCAT = 23764

| website = http://www.intelsat.com

| mission_duration = 15 years (planned)
15 years (achieved)

| spacecraft =

| spacecraft_type = Boeimg 601

| spacecraft_bus = HS-601

| manufacturer = Hughes

| launch_mass = {{cvt|2920|kg}}

| dry_mass = {{cvt|1727|kg}}

| dimensions =

| power = 4.3 kW

| launch_date = 12 January 1996, 23:10:00 UTC

| launch_rocket = Ariane 44L H10-3 (V82)

| launch_site = Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2

| launch_contractor = Arianespace

| entered_service = March 1996

| disposal_type = Graveyard orbit

| deactivated = August 2011

| last_contact =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=23764|title=INTELSAT 3R (PAS 3R)|publisher=N2YO.com|access-date=14 April 2021}}

| orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit

| orbit_longitude = 43° West (1996-2010)
81° West (2010-2011)

| apsis = gee

| trans_band = 40 transponders:
20 C-band
20 Ku-band

| trans_frequency =

| trans_bandwidth =

| trans_capacity =

| trans_coverage = Americas, Caribbean, Europe, Africa

| programme = PanAmSat constellation

| previous_mission = PAS-4

| next_mission = PAS-5

}}

Intelsat 3R (formerly PAS-3R) is a communications satellite serving the Americas market.{{cite web |title=Intelsat 3R |url=https://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=23764 |access-date=14 April 2021 |publisher=SatBeams}} It is owned by Intelsat and located at 43° West longitude.

Satellite description

Hughes Aircraft Corporation constructed the satellite based on the HS-601 satellite bus, having a mass at launch of {{cvt|2920|kg}}, which decreased to around {{cvt|1727|kg}} when it was operational.

The spacecraft had 20 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. Its two solar panels spanned {{cvt|26|m}} and generated 4.7 kW of power when the spacecraft first entered service. The power was expected to drop to around 4.3 kW by the end of the vehicle's operational life, i.e., 15 years.{{cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pas-2.htm|title=PAS 2, 3, 3R, 4 → Intelsat 2, 3R, 4 |publisher=Gunter's Space Page|date=11 December 2017|access-date=14 April 2021}}

Launch

Arianespace launched PAS-3R using an Ariane 4 launch vehicle, flight number V82, in the Ariane 44L H10-3 configuration. The launch occurred on 12 January 1996 at 23:10:00 UTC from ELA-2 at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, at Kourou in French Guiana.

Intelsat 3R

Intelsat 3R was launched in January 1996 and operated by PanAmSat until it merged with Intelsat in 2006. The spacecraft and the rest of PanAmSat's fleet were renamed on 1 February 2007.

Decommissioning

Intelsat 3R was removed from geostationary orbit in August 2011 and was placed into graveyard orbit.

References