Intelsat 601

{{Short description|Geostationary communications satellite}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Intelsat 601

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Communication

| operator = Intelsat (1991-2007)
Europe*Star (2007-2011)

| website =

| COSPAR_ID = 1991-075A{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1991-075A|title=INTELSAT 6 F-1|publisher=US National Space Science Data Center|access-date=13 July 2012}}

| SATCAT = 21765

| mission_duration = 13 years (planned)
20 years (achieved)

| spacecraft_bus = HS-389

| manufacturer = Hughes

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|4330|kg}}

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|29 October 1991, 23:08:08|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Ariane 44L V47

| launch_site = Kourou ELA-2

| launch_contractor =

| entered_service =

| disposal_type = Decommissioned

| deactivated = {{end-date|October 2011}}

| orbit_epoch = 4 December 1991

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35680|km}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35897|km}}

| orbit_inclination = 0 degrees

| orbit_period = 1436.19 minutes

| orbit_longitude =

| apsis = gee

| trans_band =

| trans_frequency =

| trans_capacity =

| trans_coverage =

| trans_TWTA =

| trans_EIRP =

| trans_HPBW =

| programme = Intelsat VI

| previous_mission = Intelsat VA F-15 (Intelsat VA)

| next_mission = Intelsat VI F-2

}}

Intelsat 601, previously named Intelsat VI F-1, was a communications satellite operated by Intelsat, and later Europe*Star. Launched in 1991, it was the last of five Intelsat VI satellites to be launched. The Intelsat VI series was constructed by Hughes Aircraft, based on the HS-389 satellite bus.

Intelsat 601 was launched at 23:08:08 UTC on 29 October 1991, atop an Ariane 4 carrier rocket in the 44L configuration, flight number V47.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=13 July 2012}} The launch took place from ELA-2 at Kourou,{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html|title=Launch List|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|work=Launch Vehicle Database|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=13 July 2012|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815040340/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html|url-status=dead}} and placed Intelsat 601 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into its final geostationary orbit using two liquid-fuelled R-4D-12 engines,{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/intelsat-6.htm|title=Intelsat-6 (601, 602, 603, 604, 605)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=13 July 2012}} with the satellite arriving in geostationary orbit on 2 November 1991.

Intelsat 601 operated in geostationary orbit with a perigee of {{convert|35680|km}}, an apogee of {{convert|35897|km}}, and 0 degrees of inclination.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=13 July 2012}} The satellite carried 38 IEEE C band and ten IEEE {{Ku band}} transponders, and had a design life of 13 years and a mass of {{convert|4330|kg}}.

Upon entering service, Intelsat 601 was positioned at 27.5 degrees west. In October 1997, it was moved to 34.5 degrees west, reaching the new slot on 16 October. Between May and July 2002 it was moved to 32.9 degrees east, and between October and November it was again moved, to 64.25 degrees east, where it would remain until October 2006. Its final operations for Intelsat were conducted at 63.5 degrees east, where it arrived in November 2006. In October 2007 it was transferred to Europe*Star, and relocated to 47.5 degrees East, arriving in November. The satellite was retired from service and placed into a graveyard orbit in October 2011.{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_intelsat_601.html|title=Intelsat 601|publisher=tbs Internet|encyclopedia=The Satellite Encyclopedia|date=3 July 2012|access-date=13 July 2012}}