Echostar 4

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General

Designation	25331 / 98028A
Launch date	7 May 1998
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Telecommunications
Geostationary orbit	see below
Launch vehicle	Proton #258

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Location

Begin	End	Position
L: 7 May 1998	end of tests	127°W (mexican DBS slot)
end of tests	Jun 1999	148°W
mid Jul 1999	Dec 1999	110°W
Feb 2000	May 2003	119°W
Jul 2003	Oct 2003	157°W
Oct 2003	Jun 2005	157°W, inclined
Jul 2005		77°W, inclined

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End of life

Out of service	Jul 2011
Cause	sent to the junk orbit

The satellite should have replaced Echostar 1 at 119°W which would then have moved to 148°W (where only 24 transponders have been granted to Echostar) After launch, the satellite has experienced anomalies in connection with solar panel deployment (two of five panels on one solar array have not unfolded). Several transponders are not operational. As a result, Echostar 4 did not replace Echostar 1. In Jul 1999 furthen anomalies with the heating and fuel systems were reported. Only 16 transponders are reported still operational.

The satellite was insured for $220 million. Echostar has filled for constructive total loss of the satellite. The FCC licence for 148°W costed $52 million.

In Jun 1999 the FCC approved a move request to 110°W to allow Echostar to start broadcasting from there. Earlier the FCC granted to transfer of the 110°W licence of MCI to Echostar. Echostar is allowed to use channels 1 - 31 (odd) and 2 - 26 (even).

In Jan 2002 Echostar requested authorization to move it to 175°W once Echostar 7 and 8 are operational.

In Mar 2005 Echostar settled the insurance for $240 million and retained the right to use it.

In mid-2005, the satellite moved to 77°W (a Mexican slot) to be leased to QuetzSat, a Mexican company (established by SES Americom Inc adn Grupo Medcom). Only 16 transponders would still be usable.

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External resources

sat-index articles

Technical data

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Lyngsat transponder loading

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Specifications

Prime contractor	LM
Platform	A2100AX
Mass at launch	3700 kg
Mass in orbit
Dry mass	1400 kg
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power
Design lifetime	15 years

Has a Leros liquid apogee engine
Telemetry and command: 12.2005 GHz, 12.2025 GHz, 12.6985 GHz and 17.308 GHz, with a 300 kHz bandwidth

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Ku-band

Main transponders	32
Backup transponders
Power	120 W
Bandwidth	24 MHz
Coverage & EIRP max	CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii: 53 dBW
Polarization	circular
Frequencies	uplink: 17.3-17.8 GHz downlink: 12.2-12.7 GHz

Transponders can be dual-combined (16 x 240 W)

Ku-band DBS US frequency chart

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