Arabsat 3A

Also called Arabsat 2BSS1 or Badr 3

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General

Designation	25638 / 99009A
Launch date	26 Feb 1999
Country of origin	Arab States
Mission	Telecommunications
Geostationary orbit	see below
Launch vehicle	Ariane V116

Satellite, launch and insurance is worth $200 million

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Location

Begin	End	Position
L: 26 Feb 1999	Mar 1999	23.7°E (tests)
Apr 1999	Nov 2008	26°E
Nov 2008	Aug 2009	30.5°E, inclined

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End of life

Out of service	Aug 2009
Cause	Moved to the junk orbit

On 7 Dec 2001, 8 transponders failed (might be a power switching panel problem or the loss of one of the solar array's power). An insurance claim for $170 million was filled and it was declared a total loss. Panamsat 5 was colocated to assist.

sat-index articles

Technical data

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Lyngsat transponder loading

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EIRP coverage (dBW)

Ku-band

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G/T coverage (dB/K)

Ku-band

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Specifications

Prime contractor	Aerospatiale
Platform	Spacebus-3000B
Mass at launch	2708 kg
Mass in orbit	1646 kg
Dry mass	1200 kg
Dimension	3.83 x 3.35 x 2.26 m at launch
Solar array	29 m
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	6400 W
Design lifetime	12 years

Telecommand: 17.302 V & 17.305 H GHz
Telemetry: 11.702 V & 11.705 H GHz

has a DASA S400 liquid apogee engine

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Ku-band

Main transponders	20
Backup transponders	8
Power	(TWTA)
Bandwidth	34 MHz
Coverage
EIRP max	48.5 dBW
G/T max	0.2 dB/K
Polarization	linear H/V
Frequencies	Uplink: 17.3-18.1 GHz Downlink: 11.7-12.5 GHz

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Transponder Frequency chart (GHz)

Horizontal Uplink	Horizontal Downlink	Channel	Vertical Downlink	Vertical Uplink
	11.72748	1		17.32748
17.34666		2	11.74666
	11.76584	3		17.36584
17.38502		4	11.78502
	11.80420	5		17.40420
17.42338		6	11.82338
	11.84256	7		17.44256
17.46174		8	11.86174
	11.88092	9		17.48092
17.50010		10	11.90010
	11.91928	11		17.51928
17.53848		12	11.93848
	11.95764	13		17.55764
17.57682		14	11.97682
	11.99600	15		17.5960
17.61518		16	12.01518
	12.03436	17		17.63436
17.65354		18	12.05354
	12.07272	19		17.67272
17.69190		20	12.09190

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