TELE-X (Retired)
TELE-X was the first telecommunication satellite for the Nordic countries and was the initial step into a new era for Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite television. It had three transponders for DTH services and two transponders for professional telecommunication services.
TELE-X was a three-axis stabilized satellite with two antennas, one for receiving and one for transmitting, and it had a designed lifetime of 6.3 years. The span of the sun panels was 19 m.
TELE-X was launched with an Ariane 2 rocket from French Guyana in South America 2 April 1989 and was in service until 16 January 1998 when TELE-X was sent to its graveyard orbit.
TELE-X Facts
• Orbital position: 5° East
• Type: Spacebus 300
• Mass in orbit: 1050kg (dry mass)
• Dimensions Body: 2.40 x 2.40 x 1.65 m
• Launched: 2 April 1989
• Operational lifetime: 9 years
• Transponders: 3 BSS, 2 FSS
• Frequency band: 11.7-12.5 GHz (BSS), 12.5-12.75 GHz (FSS)
• Transponder bandwidth: 27 MHz (BSS), 1 x 40 MHz + 1 x 86 MHz (FSS)
• Polarization: Circular
