# Artemis

> decommissioned ESA communication satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q18540](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18540)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/artemis

## Summary
Artemis is a decommissioned European Space Agency (ESA) geostationary communications satellite that also served as a technology demonstration spacecraft. It was launched on 12 July 2001 and was retired from service in November 2017.

## Key Facts
- Artemis is a communications satellite operated by the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Launch date: 2001-07-12 at 21:58 (UTC reported in source).
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G, flight V142, from ELA-3.
- Launch mass (launch weight): 3,105 kilograms.
- Spacecraft bus: GeoBus; manufacturer: Alenia Spazio.
- Mission types: technology demonstration spacecraft and geostationary communications satellite; it is also classified as a derelict satellite after retirement.
- Orbit: geostationary orbit.
- Power source: spacecraft solar array (listed value: 2500 in source data).
- Propulsion items listed: S400 and RIT-10.
- Service retirement (decommissioned): November 2017.
- Identifiers: COSPAR ID 2001-029A; NSSDCA ID 2001-029A; Satellite Catalog Number (SCN): 26863.
- Alternate name / alias: Advanced Relay and Technology Mission.
- Wikipedia title: Artemis (satellite).

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Artemis?
A: Artemis functioned as a geostationary communications satellite and as a technology demonstration spacecraft to test experimental technologies in orbit.

### Q: When and how was Artemis launched?
A: Artemis was launched on 12 July 2001 (21:58) aboard an Ariane 5G launch vehicle (flight V142) from launch site ELA-3.

### Q: Who built and operated Artemis?
A: The spacecraft was manufactured by Alenia Spazio and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA).

### Q: Is Artemis still active?
A: No. Artemis was retired from service in November 2017 and is classified as a derelict satellite.

### Q: How large and how much power did Artemis have?
A: Artemis had a launch mass of 3,105 kg. Its power source was spacecraft solar arrays with a listed value of 2500 in the source data.

## Why It Matters
Artemis combined operational communications capability with experimental technology demonstration, giving ESA a platform to validate new systems in geostationary orbit while providing telecommunications services. Its dual role allowed engineers to test propulsion and onboard systems in an operational context, informing design and operational decisions for later spacecraft. Being built on the GeoBus platform by Alenia Spazio and launched on an Ariane 5G, Artemis represents a link between industrial satellite manufacturing and European launch infrastructure. The satellite’s retirement in November 2017 closed a multi-year operational and experimental program, leaving a record of technical data and operational experience relevant to ESA, satellite manufacturers, and the wider space engineering community. As a geostationary asset, Artemis helped maintain communications capabilities at fixed orbital longitude while also demonstrating technologies that could reduce mass, extend life, or improve performance for future missions.

## Notable For
- Serving simultaneously as an operational geostationary communications satellite and a technology demonstration platform.
- Being built on the GeoBus spacecraft bus by Alenia Spazio and launched by Ariane 5G (flight V142).
- Use of propulsion hardware listed as S400 and RIT-10.
- Launch mass of 3,105 kg and spacecraft solar arrays with a listed power value of 2500 in the source record.
- Decommissioning and classification as a derelict satellite in November 2017.

## Body

### Overview
- Name: Artemis (alias: Advanced Relay and Technology Mission).
- Operator: European Space Agency (ESA).
- Roles: communications satellite; technology demonstration spacecraft.
- Status: decommissioned / classified as derelict.

### Launch and Deployment
- Launch date and time: 2001-07-12 (time listed as 21:58).
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G, flight V142.
- Launch site / start point: ELA-3.
- Significant event recorded: rocket launch on 2001-07-12 from ELA-3.

### Spacecraft and Technical Data
- Spacecraft bus: GeoBus.
- Manufacturer: Alenia Spazio.
- Launch mass (launch weight): 3,105 kg.
- Power: spacecraft solar array (listed value: 2500 in source data).
- Propulsion: items listed in source include S400 and RIT-10.
- Instance classifications in source: communications satellite; technology demonstration spacecraft; geostationary satellite; derelict satellite.
- Orbit type: geostationary orbit.

### Mission and Operations
- Primary mission types: telecommunications (operational relay) and in-orbit technology demonstration.
- Operator during mission: European Space Agency.
- Service retirement / end of operational life: November 2017 (listed as service retirement).

### Identifiers, Catalogs and References
- COSPAR ID: 2001-029A.
- NSSDCA ID: 2001-029A.
- Satellite Catalog Number (SCN): 26863.
- Freebase ID listed in source: /m/03qcj_w.
- Wikipedia title in source: Artemis (satellite).
- Image (from source): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Artemismodrp.jpg

### References (as provided in source material)
- Space.skyrocket.de spacecraft data entry for Artemis (used for mass, manufacturer, bus, propulsion, power details).
- NSSDCA / NASA spacecraft display entry (identifier and some technical details).
- Launch record references for launch date, vehicle, and start point.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Artemis",
  "description": "Artemis is a decommissioned European Space Agency geostationary communications satellite and technology demonstration spacecraft launched on 12 July 2001 and retired in November 2017.",
  "sameAs": [
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/artemis.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-029A)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013