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