Marcopolo

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Marcopolo or Marco Polo 1 and 2 were two satellites designed, launched and tested by Hughes Space and Communications (now part of Boeing Satellite Systems) for British Satellite Broadcasting, and were used for Britain's Direct Broadcast Service.[1] Marcopolo 1 launched on August 27, 1989 on the 187th launch of a Delta rocket, and Marcopolo 2 on August 17, 1990, by a Delta II rocket.[2] Marcopolo I had a Hughes designation as HS376.[3]

Although the satellites worked perfectly, BSB[4] was a commercial failure and the satellites were sold off and renamed.

Marcopolo 1 was sold off in December 1993 to Nordic Satellite AB of Sweden and operated until 2000 as Sirius 1 at 5°E. It was then moved to 13°W, and renamed Sirius W, although it is not currently transmitting any services.

Marcopolo 2 was sold in July 1992 to Telenor of Norway and renamed Thor 1. It was located at 0.8°W until it was switched off in January 2002. In November 2002, it was moved to 7.4°W and reactivated with digital test signals broadcasting towards Scandinavia. Marcopolo 2 was sent up to the junk orbit in early January 2003.

[edit] Specifications[5]

  • Prime contractor: Hughes
  • Platform: HS-376
  • Mass at launch: 1250 kg
  • Mass in orbit: 660 kg
  • Payload mass: 100 kg: transponders: 90 kg, antennas: 10 kg
  • Diameter: 2.16 m
  • Height: 2.7 m (7.2 m deployed)
  • Stabilization: Spin stabilized
  • DC power: BOL: 1024 W
  • Design lifetime: 10 years
  • Beacon: 12.494 or 12.495 GHz

[edit] References

  1. ^ BSB History by Boeing
  2. ^ Boeing Launch Services Mission Record. Boeing.
  3. ^ [1] NASM's Herbert Stephen Desind Collection,p.36
  4. ^ BSB1
  5. ^ BSB Specs