# DirecTV 3
**Wikidata**: [Q14559242](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14559242)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/directv-3

## Summary  
DirecTV 3 is a communications satellite launched in 1995 to support direct broadcast services. It was deployed to provide television broadcasting capabilities via the DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) system. Operated by Hughes Network Systems, it is also known by the aliases DBS 3 and Nimiq 3.

## Key Facts  
- Official name: DirecTV 3; aliases: DBS 3, Nimiq 3  
- COSPAR ID: 1995-029A  
- Launch date: June 10, 1995  
- Launch site: ELA-2  
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 42P rocket  
- Instance of: Communications satellite  
- SCN (Satellite Catalog Number): 23598  
- Significant event: Rocket launch on June 10, 1995 at ELA-2  
- Wikipedia language coverage: Portuguese (pt)  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/12nvp525m  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is DirecTV 3 used for?  
A: DirecTV 3 is a communications satellite used for direct-to-home television broadcasting. It supports the delivery of high-quality video signals to consumer satellite dishes.

### Q: When was DirecTV 3 launched?  
A: DirecTV 3 was launched on June 10, 1995. The launch took place from the ELA-2 launch site using an Ariane 42P rocket.

### Q: Who manufactured or operated DirecTV 3?  
A: DirecTV 3 was operated by Hughes Network Systems. It was part of the broader DirecTV satellite constellation used for broadcasting services.

## Why It Matters  
DirecTV 3 played a critical role in expanding satellite television access during the mid-1990s. As part of the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) program, it enabled reliable, high-capacity transmission of digital TV signals across North America. Its deployment contributed to the growth of direct-to-home satellite TV services, offering consumers more channel options and improved signal quality compared to earlier analog systems. Satellites like DirecTV 3 laid the technological foundation for modern satellite television providers such as DirecTV and Bell TV.

## Notable For  
- Being part of the early generation of high-power DBS satellites that revolutionized home satellite TV  
- Launching aboard the reliable Ariane 42P, a workhorse of European space launches  
- Supporting both commercial and consumer satellite television services under multiple brand names (DirecTV, Nimiq)  
- Having a long operational lifespan typical of 1990s-era Hughes-built satellites  
- Being catalogued with international identifiers including SCN 23598 and COSPAR ID 1995-029A  

## Body  

### Overview  
DirecTV 3, also referred to as DBS 3 or Nimiq 3, is a geostationary communications satellite developed for direct broadcast services. It was launched to enhance the capacity and reach of satellite television networks in the mid-1990s.

### Technical Specifications  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1995-029A  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number)**: 23598  
- **Launch Date**: June 10, 1995  
- **Launch Site**: ELA-2 (Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 42P  
- **Mission Type**: Commercial communications / direct-to-home TV broadcasting  

### Operational Role  
DirecTV 3 was designed to transmit Ku-band signals for direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services. These satellites were key to delivering hundreds of channels directly to homes equipped with small satellite dishes, bypassing traditional cable infrastructure.

### Launch Details  
The satellite was successfully launched on June 10, 1995, from the ELA-2 pad at the Guiana Space Centre. The launch utilized the Ariane 42P variant of the Ariane 4 rocket family, which was widely used for commercial payloads during that era.

### Operator and Legacy  
Operated by Hughes Network Systems (later acquired by Boeing and then SkyWorks Solutions), DirecTV 3 contributed to the expansion of satellite TV services in North America. Though no longer active, it represents a milestone in the evolution of satellite-based media distribution technologies.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report