
The Intelsat 701 satellite is a key player in the world of telecommunications. It was launched in 1981 and has been a vital part of the Intelsat fleet ever since.
The Intelsat 701 satellite is a geostationary satellite, which means it orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 36,000 kilometers. This unique position allows it to maintain a constant line of sight with Earth's surface.
The Intelsat 701 satellite has a mass of around 1,200 kilograms, making it a relatively small satellite compared to others in its class. Its compact size belies its importance in providing global telecommunications services.
A unique perspective: Netphone 701
Satellite Info
The INTELSAT 701 (IS-701) satellite was launched on October 22, 1993.
It was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, specifically from the FRGUI starting point.
The satellite's orbit had a perigee of 36,042 km and an apogee of 36,067 km.
Overview
Satellites are launched into space to provide a wide range of services, including communication and navigation.
The first satellite I'll be discussing is INTELSAT 701 (IS-701), which was launched on October 22, 1993.
It was built by the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) (ITSO) and is a significant example of satellite technology.
The satellite was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.
Here's a comparison of the satellite's perigee and apogee:
Specifications
Satellites can weigh anywhere from 100 kilograms to 20 tons, depending on their size and purpose.
The largest commercial satellite ever built is the BHR-1, which measures 11 meters in length and 2.7 meters in width.
Astronomers use satellites to study the universe, while communication satellites help us stay connected with loved ones around the world.
Some satellites are designed to operate in low Earth orbit, while others are placed in geostationary orbit, which is about 36,000 kilometers above the equator.
The first satellite, Sputnik 1, weighed about 83 kilograms and was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Satellites can be powered by solar panels or radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which convert the heat from radioactive decay into electricity.
The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission used a satellite to study a comet up close, while NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is a satellite that has been in operation since 1990.
Launch Details
The launch of Intelsat 701 was a significant event in the history of satellite communications. It took place on October 22, 1993, at 06:46:00 UT.
The satellite was launched by a carrier rocket, which placed it on a transition orbit to the geostationary path. After two engine firings, the satellite reached a preliminary geostationary orbit and began to move towards its final position.
Here's a breakdown of the key dates related to the launch and deployment of Intelsat 701:
- October 22, 1993: Launch and transition to geostationary orbit
- November 23, 1993: Deployment and testing
- January 1994: Commissioning and operational testing
- March 1994: Final deployment and operational readiness
Let's summarize the key milestones in the deployment of Intelsat 701:
Services and Coverage
Intelsat 701 offers coverage for voice, video, corporate/private networks, and Internet services in more than 200 countries and territories.
The satellite provides powerful beam coverage, which is ideal for services that require a strong signal.
INTELSAT was able to reposition a spot beam over French Polynesia to support the first digital DTH service dedicated to French language programming in the area.
This digital DTH service uses a 72 MHz transponder in the Ku-band Spot 3 beam of the INTELSAT 701 satellite to cover all the islands that constitute French Polynesia.
The service bouquet contains 12 video channels and 3 audio channels as part of the Tahiti Nui Satellite digital package to French Polynesia.
Programming on Tahiti Nui Satellite includes a variety of channels such as TELETOON, Infosport, and M6Music.
A different take: Marisat 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Intelsat satellite mysteriously breaks up in Earth's orbit?
The Intelsat 33e satellite mysteriously broke apart in Earth's orbit, resulting in a significant amount of space debris. This incident has raised concerns about the cause and potential risks to other satellites in geostationary orbit.
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