AsiaSat 4 was a Hong Kong communications satellite, which was owned, and was initially operated, by the Hong Kong based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat). It was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 122° East of the Greenwich Meridian. It spent most of its operational life at 122° East,[1] from where it was used to provide fixed satellite services, including broadcasting, audio and data transmission, to Asia and the Pacific Ocean.[2]
Names | Paksat-MM1 |
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Mission type | Communications |
Operator | AsiaSat (2003–2017) PAKSAT International (2018–present) |
COSPAR ID | 2003-014A ![]() |
SATCAT no. | 27718 |
Website | https://www.asiasat.com |
Mission duration | 15 years (planned) 19 years, 5 months and 26 days (in progress) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | AsiaSat 4 |
Spacecraft type | Boeing 601 |
Bus | HS-601HP |
Manufacturer | Hughes Space and Communications |
Launch mass | 4,137 kg (9,121 lb) |
Dry mass | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) |
Dimensions | 3.4 m x 3.5 m x 5.8 m Span: 26.2 m on orbit |
Power | 9.6 kW |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 12 April 2003, 00:47:01 UTC |
Rocket | Atlas 3B SEC (AC-205) |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral, SLC-36B |
Contractor | Lockheed Martin |
Entered service | June 2003 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Geostationary orbit |
Longitude | 122° East (2003–2017) 38° East (2018–present) |
Transponders | |
Band | 48 transponders: 28 C-band 20 Ku-band |
Coverage area | Asia, Pacific Ocean |
AsiaSat constellation Paksat constellation |
AsiaSat 4 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, for US$220 million, which by the time of its launch had become part of Boeing Satellite Systems. It is based on the HS-601HP satellite bus. At launch, it had a mass of 4,137 kg (9,121 lb),[2] and a design life of fifteen years. It carries twenty eight C-band and twenty Ku-band transponders.[2] It was planned for late 1999, but was delayed because of the Asian crisis. Construction started in September 2000.[3]
The launch of AsiaSat 4 was launched by an Atlas 3B SEC launch vehicle with a Centaur upper stage. The launch was conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (SLC-36B) at 00:47:01 UTC on 12 April 2003.[4]
AsiaSat 4 was insured for launch and first year in orbit. The AsiaSat 4 was replaced by AsiaSat 9 in 2017.[5]
AsiaSat 4 in February 2018, was leased to PakSat International operator. It was subsequently moved to a longitude of 38.2° East, and in March 2018 it began operations for PakSat, who refer to it as Paksat-MM1 (Paksat-Multi Mission 1).[2]
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Future spacecraft in italics. |
Chinese spacecraft | |
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Earth observation | |
Communication and engineering |
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Data relay satellite system |
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Satellite navigation system |
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Astronomical observation | |
Lunar exploration |
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Planetary exploration |
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Microsatellites |
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Future spacecraft in italics. |
← 2002 · Orbital launches in 2003 · 2004 → | |
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March |
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April |
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Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Cubesats are smaller. Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses). |