Venesat-1

{{Infobox spaceflight |auto=all

| name = VeneSat-1

| names_list = Simón Bolívar

| image =

| image_caption =

| image_size =

| mission_type = Communication

| operator = ABAE

| COSPAR_ID = 2008-055A

| SATCAT = 33414

| website =

| mission_duration = Planned: 15 years
Final: {{time interval|29 October 2008 16:53|25 March 2020|show=ymd|sep=,}}

| spacecraft_bus = DFH-4{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/venesat-1.htm |title=VeneSat-1 (Simon Bolivar 1) |work=Gunter's Space Page |date=12 November 2017 |access-date=24 March 2020}}

| manufacturer = China Academy of Space Technology{{cite web |url=http://www.cgwic.com/In-OrbitDelivery/CommunicationsSatellite/Program/VeneSat-1.html |title=In-Orbit Delivery: VeneSat-1 Program |publisher=China Great Wall Industry Corporation |access-date=24 March 2020}}

| launch_mass = {{cvt|5049|kg}}

| dry_mass =

| dimensions = {{cvt|2.36|xx|2.1|xx|4|m|ft}}{{cite web |url=http://www.abae.gob.ve/?p=239 |title=Especificaciones VENESAT-1 |publisher=ABAE |access-date=15 April 2020}}

| power = 7.75 kW

| launch_date = {{start-date|29 October 2008, 16:53}} UTC{{cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2008-055A |title=VeneSat 1 |publisher=NASA |work=NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive |access-date=24 March 2020}}

| launch_rocket = Long March 3B/E

| launch_site = Xichang, LC-2

| launch_contractor =

| entered_service = January 2009{{cite news |url=https://spacenews.com/venezuelas-flagship-communications-satellite-out-of-service-and-tumbling/ |title=Venezuela's flagship communications satellite out of service and tumbling |work=SpaceNews |first=Caleb |last=Henry |date=23 March 2020 |access-date=24 March 2020}}

| disposal_type = Loss of spacecraft

| declared = {{end-date|25 March 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/b7bb06eb4d79d211103ce9582a18b39c |title=Venezuela's only telecoms satellite is lost in space |work=Associated Press |first=Manuel |last=Rueda |date=27 March 2020 |access-date=27 March 2020}}

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary

| orbit_longitude = 78° West

| orbit_semimajor = {{cvt|42448.3|km}}

| orbit_eccentricity = 0.0056487

| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|35830.4|km}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|36309.9|km}}

| orbit_inclination = 0.0472°

| orbit_epoch = 24 March 2020, 05:04:06 UTC{{cite web |url=https://heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=33414 |title=VeneSat-1 - Orbit |work=Heavens-Above |date=24 March 2020 |access-date=24 March 2020}}

| apsis = gee

| trans_band = 14 × C band
12 × K_u band
2 × K_a band{{cite web |url=https://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=33414 |title=Venesat 1 |website=Satbeams |access-date=24 March 2020}}

| trans_coverage = South America (C band)
{{nowrap|Venezuela region (K_u and K_a)}}

}}

VeneSat-1, also known as Simón Bolívar (named after Venezuelan independence fighter Simón Bolívar), was the first Venezuelan satellite. It was designed, built and launched by the CGWIC subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It was a communications satellite operating from a geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was launched on a Chinese Long March 3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center Launch Complex 2 on 29 October 2008 at 16:53 UTC.{{cite news |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/china-launch-venesat/ |title=China launch VENESAT-1 - debut bird for Venezuela |work=NASASpaceFlight.com |last=Barbosa |first=Rui C. |date=29 October 2008 |access-date=29 October 2008}}

Overview

VeneSat-1, operated by Venezuela's Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE), was built on the Chinese DFH-4 satellite bus. It had a mass of {{convert|5049|kg}} and an expected service life of 15 years. The satellite featured a payload of 14 C-band, 12 K_u-band, and 2 K_a-band transponders. Occupying an orbital slot of 78° West, designated for Uruguay and ceded to Venezuela by mutual accord,{{cite news |url=https://www.satellitemarkets.com/news-analysis/update-latin-american-satellite-market|title=Update on the Latin American Satellite Market |website=satellitemarkets.com|date=5 March 2012|access-date=13 May 2023|author=B.H.Schneiderman}} it provided television broadcasting and broadband connectivity services.{{cite news |url=https://spacenews.com/solar-array-problem-killed-venezuelas-venesat-1-officials-confirm/ |title=Solar array problem killed Venezuela's VeneSat-1, officials confirm |work=SpaceNews |last=Henry |first=Caleb |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=31 March 2020}}

However, since 13 March 2020, VeneSat-1 has been out of service due to a series of maneuvers that left it tumbling and drifting away from its assigned orbital position. Seradata reported that the satellite lost both of its solar array drives between February and March 2020, resulting in a loss of power for the spacecraft. The operator attempted to perform an emergency move of the spacecraft to a graveyard orbit, but evidently, only the apogee engine burn was successful while the perigee burn failed. It is suggested that the spacecraft may have run out of power during the perigee attempt,{{cite news |url=https://www.seradata.com/its-not-just-people-that-get-sick-venesat-is-retired-to-graveyard-after-suspected-power-issue/ |title=Venesat is retired to graveyard after suspected power issue |work=Seradata |first=David |last=Todd |date=23 March 2020 |access-date=25 March 2020}} or exhausted its fuel supply. {{As of|2020|03|23}}, VeneSat-1 was in an elliptical orbit of approximately {{convert|36300|by|35800|km}}, with its perigee approximately {{convert|50|km}} above the normal geosynchronous orbit. It had also drifted west by 30°.

On 24 March 2020, the Venezuelan government transferred the majority of VeneSat-1's functions to the American Intelsat 14.{{cite news|title=Nicolás Maduro pierde el que fue el juguete chino preferido de Hugo Chávez|author=Juan Pons

|date=2 April 2020|url=https://www.atalayar.com/articulo/politica/nicolas-maduro-pierde-que-fue-juguete-chino-preferido-hugo-chavez/20200402124906145203.html|publisher=Atalayar|access-date=13 May 2023}} The following day, Venezuela's Ministry of Science and Technology officially declared the satellite lost, marking the end of its mission. VeneSat-1 failed three years prior to its expected end of life.

Significance

Venezuela's work on Venesat-1 was conducted in part to amplify regional network Telesur's programming by enabling it to avoid geo-blocking efforts by DirecTV, an American company.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1345216431 |title=Sanctions as War: Anti-Imperialist Perspectives on American Geo-Economic Strategy |date=2023 |publisher= Haymarket Books|isbn=978-1-64259-812-4 |location= |pages=68 |oclc=1345216431|last1=Davis |first1=Stuart }}