Intelsat 6B

{{Short description|Satellite providing television and communication services for Intelsat}}

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

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

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Intelsat 6B

| names_list = PAS-6B
IS-6B

| image =

| image_caption =

| image_size = 300px

| mission_type = Communications

| operator = PanAmSat / Intelsat

| COSPAR_ID = 1998-075A

| SATCAT = 25585

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

| mission_duration = 15 years (planned)
{{time interval|22 December 1998|show=ymd|sep=,}} (elapsed)

| spacecraft = PAS-6B

| spacecraft_type = Boeing 601

| spacecraft_bus = HS-601HP

| manufacturer = Hughes Space and Communications

| launch_mass = {{cvt|3470|kg}}

| dry_mass =

| dimensions =

| power = 8 kW

| launch_date = 22 December 1998, 01:08 UTC

| launch_rocket = Ariane 42L H10-3 (V115)

| launch_site = Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2

| launch_contractor = Arianespace

| entered_service = February 1999

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| last_contact =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit

| orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit

| orbit_longitude =

| apsis = gee

| trans_band = 32 Ku-band

| trans_frequency =

| trans_bandwidth =

| trans_capacity =

| trans_coverage = South America

| programme = PanAmSat constellation

| previous_mission = PAS-8

| next_mission = PAS-9

}}

Intelsat 6B (IS-6B, PAS-6B) was a satellite providing television and communication services for Intelsat, which it was commissioned by in 2006.{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pas-5.htm|title=PAS-6B → Intelsat 6B|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|date=11 December 2017|access-date=15 April 2021}}

Satellite description

It was manufactured by Hughes Space and Communications. At beginning of life, it generates 8 kW. This version takes advantage of such advances as dual-junction gallium arsenide solar cells, new battery technology and the first commercial use of a high-efficiency xenon ion propulsion system (XIPS).

Launch

The satellite was launched on 22 December 1998, 01:08 UTC, on an Ariane 42L H10-3 launch vehicle from the Centre Spatial Guyanais at Kourou in French Guiana.{{cite web|url=https://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.tx|title=Launch Log|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|date=14 March 2021|access-date=14 April 2021}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} PAS-6B provides satellite services in South America, including direct-to-home (DTH) television services.

Mission

In 2003, PAS 6B lost the secondary XIPS engines additionally to the earlier loss of the primaries, which will lead to a reduced lifetime.

References

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

{{Reflist|30em}}